A much-anticipated clash of Philly Heavyweights amounted to a one-sided, at times dirty win for Bryant “By-By” Jennings.
The former Wladimir Klitschko-challenger clinched and used his reach advantage to outpoint Joey “Tank” Dawejko, 98-92 on all three of the judges’ scorecards.
While Jennings and Dawejko were genial in-person and on social media leading up to the bout, low blows were an unfortunate presence throughout the early rounds.
The two traded low blows in the first round, before Joey threw an egregious left hand below Jennings’ waistline in the second. Bryant soon countered with a groin shot of his own, buckling Joey toward the end of the fourth round.
Much was made in the fight’s promotion of Dawejko’s prior victory over Jennings, obtained in the amateur ranks.
That win proved to be much ado about nothing, as Jennings has grown into a polished, calculated contended over his eight-year pro career. The undersized Dawejko had plenty of toughness, but didn’t appear to have upped his game from his last ESPN appearance, a May 2015 loss to Amir Mansour.
Dawejko and Jennings did plenty of clinching, with By-By otherwise gaining the upper hand with consistent jabbing and superior volume of punches. After several good-not-great 10-9 rounds for Jennings, Bryant turned it on in Round 10, punishing the body of Dawejko.
He didn’t pick up a stoppage and the fight was widely perceived to have been a let-down, but Jennings will be in good position to continue climbing back to the top of the Heavyweight division.
Bryant is now 4-0 since his 2015 stoppage loss to Luis Ortiz, with Dawejko being the most accomplished fighter of his recent victims. With another win over a capable opponent, another seven-figure payday may be within Jennings’ reach.
Header photo by Mikey Williams/Top Rank
