Jennings' bout with Perez is officially on

PHILADELPHIA heavyweight contender Bryant "By By" Jennings' fight against Mike Perez has been officially announced for May 24 at the American Bank Center in Corpus Christi, Texas.

The heavyweight-title eliminator bout will be televised live on HBO's "Boxing After Dark." Gary Shaw Productions and K2 Promotions are promoting the fight, and the winner will challenge for the WBC belt, vacated in December by longtime titleholder Vitali Klitschko.

Jennings, 29, is undefeated in 18 professional bouts, winning 10 via knockout. The Ben Franklin High product is coming off his first HBO fight, a 10th-round technical knockout against the previously undefeated Artur Szpilka on Jan. 25 at Madison Square Garden.

Jennings is No. 4 in the WBC rankings. Perez (20-0-1, 12 knockouts) is ranked fifth.

"The world has been desperately seeking a heavyweight to take over the division and I believe that person is me," Jennings said in a news release. "By defeating Mike Perez, I will position myself as the mandatory position in the WBC. My promoter Gary Shaw ensures me that if I win this fight, I'll be looking at a potential world title bout soon.

"My main focus is winning this fight against Perez and I'm doing everything in the gym to make that a reality. I'll be ready to go come May 24th."