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Klitschko wins unanimous decision over Jennings

Wladimir Klitschko was taken the distance for the first time in three fights but retained all four of his heavyweight belts with a comfortable unanimous decision over American Bryant Jennings on Saturday night.

Klitschko (64-3) mostly used his left jab against Jennings and landed a few big punches, especially late in the 12-round bout, but was also docked a point for holding after being warned twice by referee Michael Griffin.

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The 39-year-old Ukrainian extended his winning streak to 22 fights and left Madison Square Garden still in possession of his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO belts.

Speaking to HBO in the ring, he praised the 30-year-old Jennings' hand speed and athleticism.

Jennings, a previously unbeaten Philadelphian with 10 knockouts in his first 19 fights, mostly worked the big Ukranian's body and stayed up after taking a hard straight right punch in the 12th round.

"Very competitive," Klitschko said.

Klitschko hasn't lost since he was TKO'd in the fifth round by Lamon Brewster in a WBO title fight on April 10, 2004, in Las Vegas.

Saturday marked his first fight since knocking out previously unbeaten Kubrat Pulev in November, and was his first bout outside Europe since winning the WBO title from Sultan Ibragimov on Feb. 23, 2008, also at Madison Square Garden.

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Judges Steve Weisfeld and Robin Taylor each scored the fight 116-111 and Max DeLuca had it 118-109 for Klitschko.

"I was taking his shots. Did he hurt me? Maybe," Jennings (19-1) said. "But I think the scorecards were way off. ... That margin, I don't agree with it."

After three largely idle rounds with scattered action, Klitschko was more active in the fourth, when he started to establish his jab. Jennings ran him off with a body shot in the fifth, but Klitschko landed an uppercut.

Both fighters landed hooks in the eighth and Klitschko was warned again by Griffin in the ninth about his holding. He responded with a left jab followed by a good straight right.

Griffin deducted a point from Klitschko in the 10th, but the champion landed a combo to Jennings' face near the ropes.

His biggest punch of the fight came in the 12, a straight right that followed a left jab. Later, he landed a punch with each hand in the final 20 seconds.

[SportsNetwork.com]

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