<span id="midArticle_start"/><span id="midArticle_0"/> (Reuters) - Champion Wladimir Klitschko and challenger Bryant Jennings each had a special guest at Friday's weigh-in for their heavyweight title clash, with former champions Vitali Klitschko and Lennox Lewis on hand.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>The title holder's older brother was able to take a brief leave from his role as mayor of Kiev in war-torn Ukraine, while Lewis came to support his friend Jennings in Saturday's championship bout at Madison Square Garden.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>The 39-year-old Klitschko (63-3), making his 18th title defense in a nine-year run as heavyweight champion, tipped the scales in the lobby of the Garden at 241.6 pounds.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>Unbeaten American Bryant (19-0) weighed in at 226.8.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>"I boxed Klitschko already and (Jennings) just wanted to know a couple of things and I showed him a couple of things," said Lewis, who retired from the ring in 2004.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>"He’s a friend as well and I’m here to support him."
<span id="midArticle_6"/>Lewis's official experience against a Klitschko came versus Vitali, who turned out to be the final professional opponent for the dual Canadian-British citizen.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>Lewis won their 2003 bout when the fight was stopped in the sixth round due to a severe cut above the Ukrainian's left eye, though Klitschko was leading on all three judges' scorecards.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>Four years ago, Lewis acted out fight scenes with Wladimir in "Ocean's Eleven".
<span id="midArticle_9"/>The younger Klitschko took the rehearsals fairly seriously as his brother was at the time entertaining the prospects of a rematch against Lewis, who was contemplating a comeback.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>Lewis thinks Jennings, 30, will acquit himself well.
<span id="midArticle_11"/>"He's going to do quite well out there. He’s a younger man, all he has to try and do is get in there and hit Klitschko.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>"Bryant has got youth, agility and speed on his side. The only thing he lacks is experience, and experience comes after many fights."
<span id="midArticle_13"/>Another former heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, gives Klitschko a decided edge but cautions against overlooking Bryant, a product of the rough streets of north Philadelphia.
<span id="midArticle_14"/>"Everyone in a heavyweight fight has a chance, if you get a shot in," Holyfield told Reuters. "Of course, the pedigree goes with Klitschko. He had a great amateur career and a great professional career.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>"But (Jennings) is from Philadelphia. He knows about the Rocky story. Life is about that. You make the best of your opportunity."
<span id="midArticle_0"/>
<span id="midArticle_1"/> (Editing by Frank Pingue)
<span id="midArticle_2"/>
<span id="midArticle_1"/>The title holder's older brother was able to take a brief leave from his role as mayor of Kiev in war-torn Ukraine, while Lewis came to support his friend Jennings in Saturday's championship bout at Madison Square Garden.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>The 39-year-old Klitschko (63-3), making his 18th title defense in a nine-year run as heavyweight champion, tipped the scales in the lobby of the Garden at 241.6 pounds.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>Unbeaten American Bryant (19-0) weighed in at 226.8.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>"I boxed Klitschko already and (Jennings) just wanted to know a couple of things and I showed him a couple of things," said Lewis, who retired from the ring in 2004.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>"He’s a friend as well and I’m here to support him."
<span id="midArticle_6"/>Lewis's official experience against a Klitschko came versus Vitali, who turned out to be the final professional opponent for the dual Canadian-British citizen.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>Lewis won their 2003 bout when the fight was stopped in the sixth round due to a severe cut above the Ukrainian's left eye, though Klitschko was leading on all three judges' scorecards.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>Four years ago, Lewis acted out fight scenes with Wladimir in "Ocean's Eleven".
<span id="midArticle_9"/>The younger Klitschko took the rehearsals fairly seriously as his brother was at the time entertaining the prospects of a rematch against Lewis, who was contemplating a comeback.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>Lewis thinks Jennings, 30, will acquit himself well.
<span id="midArticle_11"/>"He's going to do quite well out there. He’s a younger man, all he has to try and do is get in there and hit Klitschko.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>"Bryant has got youth, agility and speed on his side. The only thing he lacks is experience, and experience comes after many fights."
<span id="midArticle_13"/>Another former heavyweight champion, Evander Holyfield, gives Klitschko a decided edge but cautions against overlooking Bryant, a product of the rough streets of north Philadelphia.
<span id="midArticle_14"/>"Everyone in a heavyweight fight has a chance, if you get a shot in," Holyfield told Reuters. "Of course, the pedigree goes with Klitschko. He had a great amateur career and a great professional career.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>"But (Jennings) is from Philadelphia. He knows about the Rocky story. Life is about that. You make the best of your opportunity."
<span id="midArticle_0"/>
<span id="midArticle_1"/> (Editing by Frank Pingue)
<span id="midArticle_2"/>
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