Butler native and professional heavyweight fighter Brian Minto has aligned himself with one of the great names in boxing.

Minto, 18-0 with 11 knockouts as a professional, signed a two-year promotional deal with Duva Boxing in Totowa, N.J., Monday night.

Duva Boxing is run by Dino Duva and Donna Brooks, son and daughter of legendary boxing trainer Lou Duva, 82, who oversees the organization.

The elder Duva is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame and has worked with 20 world champions and nine Olympic gold medalists during his career.

"Brian Minto can become the heavyweight champion of the world," Duva said. "That's a very real possibility. Who wouldn't be interested in that?"

Minto becomes the 15th pro fighter to join Duva Boxing, which broke away from Main Events - a promotional organization founded by Duva - in 2000.

The five other heavyweights currently in Duva's stable - Kirk Johnson, Eric Kirkland, Alexis Mejias, Samuel Peter and T.J. Wilson - have a combined record of 88-6-1 with 64 knockouts.

"What sold me on Brian was his knockout of (Vinnie) Maddalone," Duva said. "The way he came back from getting knocked down in the first round, how he could take a punch and keep applying pressure until wearing the other guy down. … He reminded me of Rocky Marciano.

"Marciano, Joe Frazier - that constant applying of pressure and wearing down opponents for late-round knockouts. … That's how we want Brian Minto to fight," he added.

Minto, 29, wound up knocking out Maddalone in the 10th round of their July 23 fight in Atlantic City, N.J., on ESPN2. Minto has not fought since.

He will be trained by Tommy Brooks, who replaces Tom Yankello of Ambridge in that regard. Brooks has trained former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield.

"I know Tommy will be upset and I feel badly about it," Minto said of Yankello. "You hope there's no bitterness because we had a good relationship.

"I have to take care of the money end of things and get what I can. This is the next step for me."

Minto's deal with Duva Boxing calls for him to receive no less than five figures for any fight. He is expected to get four to six fights per year and has an option for a third year in the contract.

His next fight could be in the Butler area in November.

"We like our guys to fight in their hometowns," Dino Duva said. "Those are popular shows and we're looking into putting on a pro card in Butler."

Minto is hopeful of getting a few more televised fights now that he's linked with Duva. Felix DiAloiso of Baltimore remains his manager.

"I know every fight won't be televised, but some of them will," Minto said. "A fight card around Butler could be.

"They (Duvas) are rebuilding their company and I'm glad to be part of that," he added.

Minto, who will train at the Duva gym in New Jersey, said his life will settle down once he settles into a boxing schedule. He will maintain his home in Butler.

"Brian will get some old-style treatment from us," Lou Duva said. "He takes a good punch and throws a good punch. We're going to teach him how to use his head and not get hit so much.

"He's not ready for a big-time marquee fight yet. But he's only a couple of wins away from being there."