Three Butler area residents face big nights in professional boxing over the next two months.

Brian Minto (28-2) and Jim Emrick (2-0) return to the ring on the same day as part of a six-bout card Dec. 30 at Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester, W.Va.

Longtime Butler Cubs amateur boxer Ken "K.P."Peth will make his pro debut as a light heavyweight Nov. 3 at the Waterfront Hotel in Morgantown, W.Va.

Minto's opponent has not been named, but it will be a challenge as the bout will be 10 rounds for a World Boxing Association regional championship belt.

"The winner of that fight will likely get a top 15 world ranking by the WBA and will be eligible for a world title fight,"said Pat Nelson, Minto's manager. "Our goal is to get Brian into the WBA mix.

"He needs to win this fight, but, at the same time, the opponent has to be worthy of fighting for that belt."

Minto isn't ranked among the top 15 by any of boxing's world-ranking organizations.

"I've learned to be patient in this game,"Minto said. "If I get to 30-2, that will open some doors for me. A lot of the older heavyweights are fizzling out now. ... My time will come."

Minto was hoping to fight Joe Mesi on a pay-per-view show at Mountaineer late this year, but both fighters declined because of money.

"The purse wasn't big enough to justify it,"Minto said. "We're still hoping to get together. This may even work out better for me."

Roman Greenberg (26-0), a fighter from Israel, will likely be Mesi's next opponent. Minto may face the winner.

"Our plan is to win this next fight and go after the WBA champion, probably somewhere in Europe,"Nelson said. "We'd love to get a title fight on American soil, but all of the (heavyweight) champions right now are overseas."

The current WBAheavyweight champion is Ruslan Chagaev (23-0, 17 knockouts).

The Dec. 30 fight card begins at 2 p.m. and will include Emrick, who has won both of his pro fights by stopping the opponent in the first round.

Dec. 30 will mark Emrick's first scheduled six-round bout.

"My understanding is I'll be facing a guy with nine pro fights under his belt,"Emrick said. "I'm looking forward to that."

Peth was 21-8 as an amateur fighter and 18-0 as a kickboxer. Now 27, he has been in and out of the fight game since he was 11.

Peth has been training with Minto and Emrick. He works with young fighters at the Cubs Hall.

"That place has been invaluable to me. It helped me grow up and learn about boxing,"Peth said of the Cubs Hall.

Peth's debut is scheduled for four rounds.

"I'm taking my shot now because I don't want to go life regretting not trying it,"he said. "Not wearing headgear and using smaller gloves will be a big difference."