Brian Minto has had a remarkable boxing career.

The Butler native has seen the world, made a lot of money and had one of the most entertaining fights I have ever seen when he took down Vinny Maddalone in the final round of a bout in July of 2004 in Atlantic City.

He was losing that fight — 89-82 on one judge’s card — and needed a miracle knockout in the 10th round to win.

He got it — with 32 seconds to spare.

ESPN voted it the best fight of 2004.

That win put Minto on the map and propelled his career forward to a USA West Virginia State heavyweight title and a WBA Fedecentro heavyweight title.

He even got a shot at a world title, losing to undefeated Marco Huck in a nine-round scrap for the WBO’s cruiserweight belt.

It was a bad loss for Minto, one in which he was knocked down twice and retired at the end of the seventh round.

Minto was quoted in the New Zealand Herald about his decision to not come out for the eighth round: “I didn’t want to get hurt. I’ve got two beautiful kids and a wife to go home to.”

To me, that quote should make things very clear for the 39-year-old Minto, who is the veteran of 47 pro fights and 217 rounds.

It’s time to hang up the gloves.

He has nothing left to prove.

Minto is the “Rocky” story played out in real life. He got a late start to his career, burst onto the scene and carved out quite a nice career for himself in the ring.

But the landscape has changed for Minto and for boxing as a whole.

In the United States, boxing has faded from national attention. It is still big in some countries overseas, and Minto has found he has had to travel abroad to get on quality fight cards.

That’s an added expense and even more time away from his young family.

In the ring, his career is seeing a similar fade. He has lost three of his last five bouts.

He is now the guy up-and-comers like Parker fight to climb up the ranks.

That role used to belong to Minto.

He won his first 18 bouts. He beat boxers with good records like Maddalone, Axel Schulz and John Poore. His win over Poore was at Pullman Park and was one of the most electric scenes Butler has ever experienced.

Even his loss to Tony Tubbs was a win — everyone but the three judges that day knew he was clearly the better fighter.

In 2004, Minto went from fighting at Blade Runners to the Trump Taj Mahal.

His career has taken him to Germany, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. He fought two bouts in one day. He won nine fights in one calendar year (2003).

He has done just about everything there is to do in the sport.

All boxers know this deep down, but few recognize when it is time.

Minto, it may be time.

Mike Kilroy is a staff writer for the Butler Eagle.