Wladimir Klitschko to fight Britain's Tyson Fury

Klitschko was not at his best in the win over American Bryant Jennings at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night, but used his three inch height and 20lb weight advantage to their full as he kept his opponent at bay.

Jennings' efforts to overcome that, relying on swift side-movements and dynamic tactics, were impressive, and took him the distance with the Ukrainian.

But it was nothing like enough to get close to victory, with judges scoring the bout 116-111, 116-111, 118-109 in favour of the reigning champion.

[FULL FIGHT REPORT: Wladimir Klitschko simply too good for Bryant Jennings ]

And after the bout the victor said that Fury will be his next opponent, as he will be obliged to defend his WBA title.

"I just got the news that I am obligated to satisfy my mandatories (title defences)," Klitschko, who holds the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO and Ring Magazine belts.

"The way it looks, Tyson Fury is going to be my next challenger."

Klitschko improved to 64-3 with his victory at Madison Square Garden. Fury is 24-0.

Klitschko said he would prefer adding the last belt, the WBC one held by American Deontay Wilder, to complete his collection but would have to wait until next year for that chance.

The Ukrainian, who has held a share of the heavyweight crowns for nine years running, said negotiations would begin soon on a fight against Fury.

"Obviously a fight with Tyson Fury is not going to be in the United States," he said. "I think this fight needs to happen in Europe. I know that he's the WBA mandatory. It's something that I have to do.

"Fighting Fury in Germany or in Great Britain, that's something we have to figure out. It's something we have to work out."

Klitschko also praised his beaten opponent, Jennings.

"He was really mobile and it was really tough to hit him," said the 39-year-old, who was taken the distance for only the 11th time in his 67-fight career.

“Jennings was challenging he was trying in his own way and I need to give respect for that. But there were no questions at the end of a 12-round fight who was the winner. I could have done better....

"He would have beat a lot of top heavyweights tonight. I welcome him to the top of the heavyweight division."

For his part, Jennings was not happy with the way the fight went - or the way the scoring came out.

"Every time I started working he held me," said the American. "When he was holding I was hitting him to the body. I must have hit him with about a hundred body shots, but not much to the head.

"I think the margin should have been much closer."

"Jennings showed incredibly well. He might not deserve the immediate rematch he called for in the post-fight press conference – it’s fair to say he was being graded on a curve somewhat – but there’s no doubt his stock is elevated even in defeat. But he no doubt benefited from an opponent who appeared slightly past his stratospheric peak. Klitschko, 39, at times even looked ordinary. From the opening bell Jennings tried to move and use angles to make Klitschko work for every point." - Bryan Armen, The Guardian

"[The bout was never close] in large part because Klitschko started well, keeping Jennings so off-balance that the challenger often lost any technique and threw some wild prayers. None of those came close to being answered. Klitschko won all but the ninth and 10th rounds on judge Max DeLuca's card - and the 10th was when he had the point deducted. Robin Taylor gave Jennings the third, sixth and seventh. Steve Weisfeld saw the third, sixth and ninth in Jennings' favour... Although not at his dominant best, Klitschko was in control from the outset in his 18th straight successful defense. His jab and straight right hands kept Jennings from getting inside, and the unbeaten American had little chance of winning from distance." - Barry Wilner, AP