Wladimir Klitschko vs. Bryant Jennings: Live Round-by-Round Results, Highlights

Wladimir Klitschko successfully returned to the United States and defended the World Heavyweight Championship for the 18th time with a unanimous-decision win over Bryant Jennings on Saturday night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. 

Klitschko, who was fighting in the U.S. for the first time since 2008, won by scores of 116-111, 116-111 and 118-109.

Bleacher Report scored the contest 118-109 for Klitschko from ringside.

Klitschko (61-3, 53 KO) didn't appear as dominant as he has in recent years, but it was more than enough to get the job done in convincing fashion. His left jab was the dominant weapon in the fight, but his straight right hand, which usually follows that punch, wasn't nearly as effective.

HBO's Max Kellerman asked him in the ring after the fight if he sustained an injury to the ring hand, but Klitschko credited Jennings for making it hard for him to utilize that punch.

Jennings (19-1, 10 KO) was a game challenger but didn't seem to have much in the way of a game plan beyond hoping Klitschko tired or left himself open to a big shot that could change the fight. He was effective in limited bursts, but really struggled with the champion's jab and clinching once the fight got on the inside.

Klitschko has frequently been criticized for grabbing whenever the action gets too close, and he was deducted a point in Round 10 for excessive holding.

But Jennings just wasn't active enough to snag a decision verdict over the reigning champion.

Klitschko connected on 144 of 545 total punches during the fight according to CompuBox tracking, while Jennings connected on 110 of just 376.

Interestingly, Jennings did hold a 94-52 edge in power connects, but Klitschko averaged more thrown jabs per round than the challenger did total punches, and that was the difference.