CENTER TWP — It’s not your age. It’s how you feel.

Butler heavyweight boxer Brian Minto says he “feels great” and plans to continue his career after his seven-round TKO loss to undefeated Joseph Parker last weekend at the Vodafone Event Centre in Manukau City, New Zealand.

In fact, he will likely return to New Zealand as the headliner in a cruiserweight “Super 8” tournament in November.

“I was approached about it after the fight and they want to guarantee me so much money just to fight in that event,” Minto, 39, said. “I’ve become pretty marketable in New Zealand. They treat me pretty good over there.”

Minto (39-8, 25 KOs) upset New Zealand boxing standout Shane Cameron (29-3) with a seventh-round TKO in December, a victory that earned him a bout with Parker.

“I’m not going to take anything away from him,” Minto said of Parker. “He’s huge and he’s fast. His speed is unbelievable. He’s definitely an up and comer.

“Looking back on it, though, I probably shouldn’t have fought him that night. I had a broken nose and it affected how I fought. I was moving around the whole time, but I wasn’t coming forward like I normally do. I wasn’t me.

“I’m kind of disgusted by the whole thing, really,” he added.

Minto broke his nose during a sparring session seven days before the fight. He admitted to not wearing the headgear designed to protect the face during that workout.

“They had just put a fresh kid in to spar, I hit him a couple of times, bounced off the ropes to come back at him and he caught me straight in the face,” Minto said. “I knew it was broken right away.

“Hindsight is 20-20 ... I should have had that gear on.”

Considering asking to postpone the fight, Minto said he felt threatened that Parker’s handlers would replace him if he said he wasn’t ready to get in the ring.

“I wasn’t about to be over there for five weeks and come home empty-handed,” Minto said. “This is how I make my living. That’s why this Super 8 opportunity is something I have to look at.

“I’m probably better suited as a cruiserweight. Some of these heavyweights, they’re big guys. I give up a lot (in weight) against them.”

The winner of the cruiserweight “Super 8” in New Zealand takes home $150,000.

Prior to the Parker fight, Minto was accused of taking PEDs illegally — something he laughs about now.

“That was all hype on their part, trying to drum up more press and sell more tickets,” he said. “I’ve have a medical issue with low testosterone levels for a few years. What I take is prescribed by my doctor specifically for that.

“I declare it before every fight. I volunteered to submit to any drug test they wanted and they declined. They knew I was legal. I’ve never done anything illegal that way.”

Minto said he weighs 205 pounds now and will take a week off before resuming training.

“I got knocked down a couple of times (by Parker), but I’m fine,” he said. “Sometimes you get knocked down in boxing. It doesn’t mean you’re hurt.

“I caught him with a good hook during that fight. His knees wiggled and I know I hurt him. I just couldn’t follow up with anything.

“It’s not like I’m punch-drunk or can’t talk or anything. I’m in good shape. I’ll know when it’s time to get out. Hopefully, I’ll get in that tournament and see what happens from there,” Minto added.