Going a few rounds with Brian Minto
Brian Minto, 32, has been a professional heavyweight boxer since November 2002. His record is 27-2 with 16 knockouts and he is ranked 47th out of 1,084 pro heavyweights in the world by boxrec.com. He resides in Center Township with his wife Heidi, daughter Megan, 7, and son Matthew, 5.
He recently agreed to a candid interview about his life in and out of the ring:
What type of kid were you in high school?I was an athletic kid, a very competitive person. I loved all sports and I was the type of person who didn't take crap from anybody. I've always been that way.I played linebacker for the Butler High School football team and was a running back for South Side in the Midget League. Harry Leyland was my coach — a great coach.I played basketball and baseball as a young kid. Matt Clement and I were good buddies. I used to go over to his house to shoot baskets with him. He was the pitcher and I was the catcher for the Highfield Mets in Little League. Now he's a major league pitcher and I can say I was one of his first catchers.
What made you decide to get into boxing?I was working eight hours a day carrying block and brick. I wasn't utilizing my talents. I asked myself what activity I could get into to become physically active.Boxing was it. I was a little overweight, too, and I needed something to work it off. I never planned on turning professional. I just had an opportunity. I found out they paid a couple hundred dollars for a fight and I was looking for some extra money for the holidays.
How do you respond to critics who say boxing is barbaric and an outdated sport?That's way overhyped. Injuries that do happen in the sport. ... Where boxers run into trouble is draining too much fluid while making weight for a fight. Your brain is protected by water, so you put yourself at risk when you do that.People who say it's barbaric ... well, it is rough and you do take a risk anytime you step in the ring. That's like getting in a car and driving. ... If you want to get concerned, there's a lot of ways to get hurt.(Boxing) does take a lot of courage. It's kind of challenging. That's what I like about it.
Do you regret not graduating from Slippery Rock University?I'm thinking of going back. I need 35 credits to finish. When my kids are a little older, I'll go back and finish up. If I expect it out of my children, I should have a degree. That's definitely one of my goals.
What are your thoughts about the Butler Cubs boxing program?It's a good program for kids. They have a specialty outreach program for kids who are troubled. You're not going to get heavyweight champs out of the place, but it's a really good program, Christian-based, and kids will learn the gist of life.You have to be responsible for your actions. If you're out getting in trouble all the time, you have to find a way out of that. It's a good program that way.
You still have fewer than 50 total pro and amateur fights in your career. Are you surprised to be where you are?A little bit, yeah. But at the same time, it is real. That tells you my pro career will be a long one. I believe I can fight into my late 30s if I take care of my body and no injuries happen.
If your pro boxing career hadn't panned out, what would you be doing now?Probably working in the construction field. I worked for Armstrong Cable for five years. ... I took a labor union job because I knew I'd be laid off in the winter, collect unemployment and give myself a better opportunity to train.I took a chance. It turned out great. I've made a substantial amount of money, provided for my family. It's kind of mind-boggling where I'm at now. I used to struggle week to week. Money's not really an issue now.I still try to be humble, don't live above my means. I try to help people out. I was there once.
At what point in your career did you become convinced you could climb the heavyweight ladder?After my first ESPNfight (against Vinny Maddalone). He was a bigger guy. He was real rough. I wanted to sharpen up my skills. He was probably as tough as they come. He just cuts real easy in the face.
How did you meet and develop your relationship with trainer Tommy Yankello?I started sparring with Calvin Brock and (Yankello) was training him. My manager (Pat Nelson) introduced us. He called him up and asked if he would train me.It was right after (Yankello) and Paul Spadafora had a falling out. Paul would like to train with him again, but his promoters and other handlers aren't real crazy about that.
Your wife won't watch you box live. Does that bother you?No. I respect her for that. My mom will watch it. So will my dad. There's still concern on every family member's part as to what's gonna happen.She'll watch them on tape afterward once she knows I'm all right. She won't watch the last fight (vs. Luan Krasniqi). Because I got knocked down, maybe it will give her a little more sour taste in her mouth about me doing this.She doesn't want to raise kids by herself. She does it a lot of the time now.
Assuming you keep winning, how many more fights before you get a title shot?At least three, maybe more. I hope my world ranking (15th) doesn't drop in the WBO. Maybe I'll stay there, get a key couple of wins, get another shot.The champ has to stay busy. He can fight anybody out of the top 15. If I'm not still ranked there, I still have a lot of time to get back in the mix.
Did your performances against Axel Schulz and Luan Krasniqi validate you as a world-class fighter?Oh yeah, definitely. With all the experience Krasniqi has — he was a bronze medalist in the 1996 Games, probably had a few hundred amateur fights, was Lennox Lewis' chief sparring partner, a real gifted athlete — I hung in there with him.I don't think losing hurt my stock that much.
Is there anyone in the heavyweight division you feel you're not ready to fight?Probably (champion) Wladimir Klitschko. He's on top of his game right now. He's 6-feet-8, 240 pounds, a big puncher with great style. He's hard to get to because he's solid defensively, too.He may have a soft chin, but he protects it well. If the money was big, I'd fight him, though. I'm not afraid to fight anybody.
Do you see yourself dropping to cruiserweight at some point?I've thought about it from time to time, but right now I'm staying at heavyweight. It's in the back of my mind because I could drop to cruiserweight (200 pounds maximum weight) and probably be the undisputed champion right now.The purse for a cruiserweight world title fight recently was $300,000. That's $150,000 each for a title fight?That's ridiculous.
Did you learn more about boxing in your losses to Tony Tubbs and Luan Krasniqi than in any of your wins?Definitely. Just seeing how crafty they are and how they lured me into their so-called traps. The holding and hooking, how to work the referees, like it or not, that's part of this game, especially in big fights.
What are your plans for after boxing?I'm looking at investments now: real estate, opening up homes for kids, maybe start some type of after-school program for kids to keep them off the streets and away from trouble.I'd love to open up a gym for young kids, older kids, troubled kids, adults, and teach them how to box.
