By Allan Fox: With Floyd Mayweather Jr. signing a six-fight contract with Showtime, IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko (59-3, 50 KO’s) will now likely face fringe contender Francesco Pianeta (28-0-1, 15 KO’s) on May 4th in Germany instead of American Bryan Jennings.
According to Dan Rafael, Wladimir was looking at facing Jennings on May 4th if Mayweather’s fight with Robert Guerrero was going to be televised on HBO, because the network was reportedly interested in purchasing the Wladimir-Pianeta fight to televise as part of a split site double-header on that night.
But now that Mayweather will be fighting on Showtime, HBO doesn’t plan on trying to compete with that huge fight, and won’t bother putting on a boxing telecast on that night. As such, they’re not interested in the Wladimir-Jennings fight. Wladimir’s next fight instead will be telecast by EPIX HD in the U.S, and that’s going to bring less money, and attention for Wladimir than what he would have gotten had he been part of the Mayweather telecast on HBO.
There’s still a possibility that Wladimir could face Jennings, but it’s probably not a good one unless he personally wants to fight him. If not, then Jennings will have to face Kubrat Pulev in a IBF heavyweight eliminator bout to determine the mandatory challenger for Wladimir.
That’s the better deal for Jennings if he can become the mandatory challenger because he’ll get a lot more money than he would if he’s selected for an optional defense. But beating Pulev is no easy task, and there’s no telling how the 6’2” Jennings will do against the 6’4 ½” Pulev.
He would be giving away close to three inches in height to the huge Bulgarian and 20 pounds in weight. However, Jennings is the better combination puncher, and he could give Pulev problems if he’s able to get in punching range and out-work him. Tomasz Adamek was supposed to face Pulev in the IBF eliminator, but he opted not to take the fight because he felt it wasn’t a bout that would bring him much of a payday.
The 6’5” Pianeta, #9 WBO, #12 WBA, isn’t as tough as Jennings, and it will be an arguably easier fight for Wladimir. However, it’s not a fight that will interest American casual boxing fans because few fans have ever seen Pianeta fight before. He doesn’t have much power and he’s not going to be nearly the threat that Jennings would.
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