Bryant Jennings burst on to the boxing scene last year when a last minute cancellation handed him the opportunity to headline the inaugural broadcast of NBC Sports Fight Night. Since that time, Jennings has had a whirlwind of year, climbing through the ranks and capturing the USBA Heavyweight Title. Jennings was once again put to the test in his defense of the title against Bowie Tupou. Once again, Jennings passed that test.

Bowie Tupou entered the ring looking like a warrior from an ancient civilization, a true Goliath if you will—not that Jennings is comparable to David. Jennings is a big man too, but Tupou is a beast. Tupou stood taller and outweighed Jennings by 27 pounds. For this reason, Jennings started the fight on the cautious side.

Inevitably, trainers and promoters yell instructions to their fighters. Whether the fighter truly needs these impromptu instructions is not always known. But throughout the first round, Jennings was being told to “double the jab,” “be first,” and “do what you do.” The last piece of advice was probably the best thing they could have told him. Jennings took his time and waited for his chance.

This can make for a slow fight at times. But in the second round, Tupou caught Jennings with a shot to the head. Jennings responded with a scream and then returned with a short flurry of shots. In the third round Tupou seemed to have the upper hand. He jabbed Jennings back to the ropes and with a glancing blow Jennings found himself on the canvas. As soon as Jennings was up, Tupou was back with a flurry, trying to put him right back down. When this didn’t work, Tupou leaned on the ropes and let Jennings land a combination. Tupou responded with a combination. Tupou seemed to be winning the round, but Jennings was far from out, ending the round with a combination at the bell.

In the fourth, Tupou seemed again to be the aggressor. He pressed Jennings to the ropes once again. It was at this time that some of the best advice was yelled to Jennings. “Step to your right.” By doing this, Jennings was able to neutralize the right hand of Tupou. This changed the tempo of the round. Jennings was now able to go on the attack and worry less about being hit.

In the fifth, it was all Jennings. He came on the attack, landing combination after combination. Backing Tupou to the ropes, Jennings landed a combination, finishing with a right upper cut. Tupou went down. He lay motionless for most of the count and got up just in time to beat it. However, the referee felt that the fight was over. Jennings won by TKO in the fifth.
 

While Jennings was able to finish his year as impressively as it began, Junior Lightweight Eric Hunter was able to make his mark on national television. Like Jennings, Hunter was tapped as a fill in, this time for Teon Kennedy, Jerry Belmonte’s original opponent. When life offers an opportunity like that, you just have to take it. That is exactly what Hunter did.

From the first round, Hunter made his presence known to Belmontes. He was knocking him around, and at times, a smile could be seen on his face. In the second round, Hunter put Belmontes down on the canvas. From that point, a great deal of confidence could be seen in both the face and fighting style of Hunter.

Maybe this started to go to Hunter’s head because in the third round, Belmontes was able to pressure Hunter around the ring. Hunter was quick to hold to stop the attacks to the body. However, Hunter came out calmer in the fourth round. He was back in control of the fight. Belmontes had a wild look in his eyes now. The fifth still saw Hunter in control. He was backing Belmontes around the ring. Belmontes landed a solid upper cut to stop the attack, but Hunter was right back in there.

In the sixth, Belmontes seemed to be all out of ideas. He was using his weight to move Hunter around the ring. Hunter quickly realized that he would need to keep some distance. And by the seventh round he was once again in control. In the eighth, Hunter was fighting with his hands down, moving his head and shoulders almost as a dare to Belmontes. Belmontes did not know how to respond and at times just stood there staring.

In the ninth, Belmontes was able to stagger an off balance Hunter. But Hunter returned fire, knocking Belmontes back and across the ring. Hunter once again returned to his head movement, hypnotizing Belmontes from moving. And although the fight ended in a brawl and valiant effort from Belmontes, Hunter had easily won the fight. The judges scored the fight 99-91, 97-92, and 99-90.
 

The undercard for the most part was as explosive as the main event and co-main event. Junior Lightweight Jason Sosa dominated Isaac Suarez. Sosa was able to cut the ring from the first round. Sosa knocked Saurez down in the second, and although Saurez got up he was too shaky to continue. Sosa won by TKO.
 

Lightweight Angel Ocasio easily defeated Esteban Rodriguez. In the first round, Ocasio knocked Rodriguez to the canvas with a body shot. Ocasio knocked him down twice in the second round. After the second time, Rodriguez shook his head, no more. Ocasio won by TKO.
 

The night started with Welterweight Hasan Young knocking Josue Rivera down three times in the first before the fight was stopped.
 

Junior Lightweight Anthony Burgin won by unanimous decision over Kenneth Brown.
 

Super Middleweight Jesse Hart won by unanimous decision after knocking Steven Tyner down in the second.
 

After being knocked down in the first few seconds of round one, Light Heavyweight Todd Unthank-May came back to defeat Taneal Goyco by unanimous decision.
 

Featherweight Joshua Arocho won by unanimous decision over Alex Barbosa.