Wednesday, April 25th 2018

Bryant Jennings Unscripted: The Philly Homecoming Presented by GEICO

The time has come. It has been more than six years since I last fought in my hometown of Philadelphia, and I am honored to do it again. My opponent on Saturday at The Liacouras Center is fellow Philly native and my old amateur rival, Joey Dawejko. I fought Joey early in my amateur career, and the judges gave him the decision. That’s in the past. I am a heavyweight on a mission, and Joey is just another guy standing in my way of a title shot.

I’ve been asked a lot whether I feel any extra pressure because this fight will be on a big ESPN show in front of my friends and family. It’s always an honor to be on a big stage, but I have to treat this like any other fight. Once you let all that extra stuff get to you, that’s never a good thing. I know what I have to do.  I fight because of my mission.

My mission is simple — I want to win. I want to succeed at whatever I set out to do. All of that stuff — the title shots and big fights — are in play, but it’s important to respect the journey and seize the opportunities.

As for the amateur rivalry, I look at it like I never fought Joey. He is a different fighter, and I am a much better fighter. I expect Joey to be at his best, but I can guarantee you it’s nothing I haven’t seen before. I know that Joey hasn’t seen anyone like me before. This is his biggest stage. Let’s not get that messed up. I don’t know if he’s looking to make money or make a legitimate run. Last I heard, he was trying to retire. I’m not sure of his goals.

Every fight is its own journey. Whenever you’re in the ring with someone, you have to absorb the person to know what you’re in there with. Until you start feeling what you have in front of you and knowing if you can do it, there will be questions. If Joey is determined to be in top shape, that’s a new place for his body. His body has never been there before, so who knows? Maybe he can handle it. Maybe he can’t. It takes years to condition your body. You can’t just jump into top shape. Unlike Joey, I’m always in shape.

Saturday night is not just about Joey and I. This event is full of Philly fighters like Jesse Hart and Christian Carto. If we all put on a show, we can elevate Philadelphia and show everyone that this is still a great fighting city. I am glad that the event is receiving a lot of exposure, especially in the city.

This is going to be a special night. Philly boxing is back in the spotlight, and the Philly fighters are ready to go.

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Jennings-Dawejko, the Jessie Magdaleno-Isaac Dogboe WBO junior featherweight title bout, and Jesse Hart-Demond Nicholson (super middleweights) will be televised LIVE on ESPN and stream in English and Spanish on the ESPN App at 7 p.m. ET.  Undercard bouts will stream live on ESPN+, available on the ESPN App, beginning at 4 p.m. ET. ESPN Deportes will air the fight at 10 p.m. ET.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Peltz Boxing, tickets, priced at $100, $65 and $35, are ON SALE NOW and can be purchased at The Liacouras Center Box Office and www.liacourascenter.com, or by calling Peltz Boxing at 215-765-0922.

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