Wladimir Klitschko says Tyson Fury set to be next challenger

Klitschko's last fight in the US was at Madison Square Garden in February 2008

Wladimir Klitschko said Britain's Tyson Fury is set to be his next challenger after retaining his world heavyweight titles for the 18th time in a row.

The 39-year-old Ukrainian, who holds the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts, secured a unanimous points victory over American Bryant Jennings at New York's Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

British champion Fury, 26, is the mandatory challenger for the WBO crown.

"I think this fight needs to happen in Europe," said Klitschko, 39.

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

Klitschko, competing in a record-equalling 27th heavyweight title fight, was awarded victory over Jennings 116-111, 116-11 and 118-109.

"Jennings would have beaten a lot of heavyweights," said the champion, who has won 64 of his 67 fights. "He's a tough competitor."

Klitschko relied on his heavy jab to pile up points against his previously unbeaten 30-year-old opponent.

Jennings fought defensively for the first third of the bout with his gloves held high over his face, only occasionally springing into offensive action.

In the middle third of the 12-round bout, the American turned more aggressive, scoring with some rights into Klitschko's ribs and by the ninth round had caused a cut under Klitschko's left eye.

Klitschko responded by throwing more combinations, following up his stiff jab with a dangerous right and finished strongly, landing a big right hand in the final seconds.

Jennings thought the fight was much closer than the scoring.

"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."

Fury beat Romania's Christian Hammer in his most recent fight, taking his record to 24-0.

Asked about Klitschko after that bout, the Manchester fighter said: "I'm ready for him."