Rob Brant likely to return in February

WBA “world” middleweight titleholder Rob Brant recently signed a co-promotional deal with Top Rank, following his October upset win over Ryota Murata, and now it looks like his next fight is almost set.

Brant (24-1, 16 KO) will likely be back on Feb. 15 in Minneapolis, according to ESPN, against an opponent to be determined, televised on ESPN.

The 28-year-old Brant is a native of St. Paul and has fought several times at the Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota, most recently on March 9 for a tune-up win after his ill-fated experiment in last year’s World Boxing Super Series super middleweight tournament, where he lost to Juergen Braehmer in the opening round.

Right now, the WBA has Canelo Alvarez as “super world” champion and Brant as “world” champion, with David Lemieux and Gennady Golovkin the two top rated contenders. Lemieux will be fighting on Alvarez’s Dec. 15 undercard in New York, and is a Golden Boy fighter, so he won’t be facing Brant. Golovkin is figuring out his broadcast partner future at the moment, and he’s not going to fight in Minnesota.

Poland’s Kamil Szeremeta (18-0, 4 KO) is in the No. 3 slot, followed by Magomed Madiev (12-0-1, 4 KO) and Esquiva Falcao (22-0, 15 KO). Falcao is promoted by Top Rank. Rounding out the top 15 are Murata, Khasan Baysangurov, David Papot, Maciej Sulecki, Jason Quigley, Andrew Francillette, Spike O’Sullivan, Dormedes Potes, Patrice Volny, and Alfonso Blanco.