Bryant Jennings isn’t bothered by his odds against the heavily favored Wladimir Klitschko in the Heavyweight Championship matchup, Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
Klitschko is a 14-1 favorite over Philadelphia’s Jennings (19-0, 10 KOs) — who has an amazing story to tell — including having just six years combined as an amateur (one year) and pro (five years). Jennings has a plan, but so did everyone else that entered the ring to face the hulking Ukrainian.
I got the chance to sit down and talk B.Y. — as he prepared for the biggest challenge of his life. As usual — the North Philly native was candid, humble and confident as he discussed as shot at history.
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BSO: Hows everything going Bryant? Hows has this training camp been for you. I see your social media presence is down a bit?
BJ: My Instagram has been in heavy use. I’m still around, just doing what I do. I try to mix everything together, and stick to one thing. I’ve been doing different things to keep my presence on social media heavy for my fans.
BSO: The change to training in Houston. I’ve heard you discuss it a bit, by why the change in training venue? Or the wants to know — why aren’t you in Philadelphia?
BJ: Home is rough. When your home, you’re more accessible to people, and they can walk in the gym at any time to talk to me or just see me. I want to focus and I just felt that relocating was a good move for me.
BSO: Evander Holyfield referred to you as the “Black Rocky” recently. How does that make you feel, and is it an accurate statement?
BJ: I just do me. That could be a good thing, or it could be a bad thing. I do my own thing, and you can actually call me the real Rocky. ‘Rocky’ was a movie. I’m the real life version of dreams coming true.
The comparison is there, but I don’t buy into.
BSO: Bryant did you adjust your training or the process of camp for Klitschko?
BJ: On any given day, I live as if i’m in training. It’s not just 8 weeks at a time prior to fights. But rather 365 days a year, no drinking or smoking, no unwanted company knocking me off my zone.. I definitely remove all distractions that normally would set me back. Just pure focus in my mission to prepare, through tunnel vision. I have no problem sacrificing everything to accomplish the task at hand. I started working a few weeks earlier, but other than that, it’s been business as usual.
BSO: You proudly preach the Vegan lifestyle. How does being a Vegan help you, and are you still able to bulk up and remain strong during the process?
BJ: Yeah. It started with me being a vegetarian, and then it eventually moved towards vegan-ism. Now it’s permanent. It’s a true way of life. As a professional athlete, my diet helps me tremendously. There’s no difficulty in me making weight before fights, or maintaining it.
I feel better than ever, light on my feet… Heck, I even think with a more clear mind, all from my eating the right choices for me and my body. I research everyday on Vegan-ism, learning new things daily, which is pretty cool.
BSO: How is it preparing for a guy so much bigger than you?
BJ: Just trying to remain comfortable and doing what we do.
BSO: What about his style, grabbing, holding and clenching?
BJ: it’s better said, then done. I can talk about defending his clenching and grabbing, but I’ll have to go out and execute my gameplan.
BSO: Tell us about Elite Klass?
BJ: Me and Darryl “Kottaman” Russ started a movement that would soon define what every perfectionist was trying to accomplish. Why seek mediocrity or less than. That movement is called EliteKlass. It all started from a music standpoint.
EliteKlass expresses proper ways of doing things and doing them in an elite manner. A manner of carrying yourself.
BSO: J Prince, can you tell us what it’s like work with a man — held in such legendary status by so man?
BJ: He’s a great man, a really smart man.
