By Ryan Burton
Mandalay Bay, LAS VEGAS - The Twitter rumblings have been confirmed.
Multiple sources have advised BoxingScene.com that heavyweight contender Bryant Jennings (19-2) is signing with Top Rank Inc. and that an official announcement is imminent.
The 32-year-old has been out of the ring since back to back losses in 2015, with a competitive decision loss to then heavyweight kingpin Wladimir Klitschko in April in Madison Square Garden, and then suffered a tough TKO defeat to top contender Luis Ortiz in December of the same year.
The Philadelphia native holds victories over the then unbeaten Mike Perez, Artur Szpilka and Maurice Byarm and also has a victory over veteran Andrey Fedosov.
Over the past several years Top Rank has stayed away from the heavyweight division with contender Andy Ruiz being the lone exception. That stance changed when the Las Vegas based promotional outfit recently entered into a co-promotional agreement with WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker who is also promoted by Duco Events.
Bryant, who is managed by Andre Ward's manager James Prince, is expected to return to the ring in the near future. Prince has a close relationship with Top Rank and last year brought his Olympian, Shakur Stevenson, to their banner.
Industry insiders are expecting Top Rank to make their long rumored new boxing series public in the next few days and it is highly likely that the former heavyweight title challenger will perform on the new outlet.
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