By Steve Kim
It was announced earlier this week that negotiations would take place for Hassan N'Dam and Ryoto Murata (the two top rated contenders in the WBA) to fight for the "regular" version of that middleweight title.
So where does that leave the third ranked contender, Rob Brant?
''Rob is the mandatory challenger for the winner of Murata and N'Dam, so the winner has to face Rob within 120 days," explained Greg Cohen, who promotes the 26-year old native of St. Paul, Minnesota, who has a record of 22-0 (15 KO's).
"But Rob fought in January and so that could be August, September. So Rob is looking to stay a little active and I believe he's going to fight at Grand Casino in Hinckley, Minnesota on April 21st."
Back on January 20th Brant blew out Alexis Hloros in one round at this venue. Brant has stopped nine out of his last ten opponents, including his last four.
Cohen admits that this upcoming affair would be a tune-up fight - "Listen, it's a very fine line you have to walk if you're in his position because God forbid the wrong thing happens and you ruin years of work. I mean, I'm very confident in Rob but guys can get cut, guys can break an arm, a leg, a hand - things go happen. I'll be walking on egg shell, I'll be nervous whoever he fight."
Currently, Gennady Golovkin holds the 'super' WBA middleweight title. Last weekend at Madison Square Garden in New York he out-pointed mandatory challenger Danny Jacobs, who had held this "regular" title that N'Dam and Murata will be competing for.
Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.