TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Marcus McGee knows how to extend his opponents.

Now he's trying to extend his career.

McGee, 37, brings a 21-16 record into his 10-round fight with Butler's Brian Minto for the latter's WBAFedecentro heavyweight title Nov. 1 at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House.

McGee's record is a bit deceiving in that the 6-foot-3, 230-pound boxer has gone the distance against numerous high-level opponents.

"Marcus isn't afraid of anybody. He isn't intimidated by anybody," said McGee's manager, Jay Deas. "We were over in Germany when Brian fought (against Luan Krasniqi) and got to know him pretty well.

"He's a good guy and we thank him for this opportunity. But business is business."

McGee had only two amateur fights and didn't turn pro until age 30. He played guard for Lawson State Junior College's basketball team and later for the University of Alabama-Birmingham.

"A knee injury ended my basketball career,"McGee said. "I weighed 165 pounds in high school, 188 in college. But I became a chef, worked at a lot of nice restaurants and a chef has to taste what he cooks."

A master head chef, McGee saw his weight balloon to 260 pounds. Once he hit the gym, he eventually got back down to 180.

"I knew I had to get back in shape and boxing has always been a dream of mine,"McGee said. "I decided to pursue it. I wish I had gotten started in it sooner.

"Once I dropped all that weight, I didn't have enough punching power. I couldn't finish guys. I had to bulk up a little bit to develop some power."

McGee fought David Rodriguez, who was 26-0 with 25 knockouts at the time, in December and lost an eight-round decision.

He also has gone the distance against Malik Scott (24-0), Jean-Francois Bergeron (27-1, 19 KOs) and Michael Grant (44-3, 33 KOs) in the past three years.

"Scott said Marcus tied him up in knots,"Deas said. "Marcus is a poor man's Jimmy Young. He's not a big puncher, but he's tricky and awkward, and he has a lot of toughness. He's a pretty slick fighter for a guy his size."

Deontay Wilder, a silver medalist in Beijing and the lone medalist on the 2008 U.S. Olympic boxing team, spars and trains with McGee regularly.

"That man is all heart in the ring,"Wider said. "He forces you to go 110 percent even when you're sparring with him because he treats it like an actual fight.

"I know how good Minto is, but I know Marcus McGee. Believe me, he'll give (Minto) trouble. He knows what he's doing in there."

McGee already has begun helping Deas train fighters in Tuscaloosa and plans to stay in boxing as a trainer once his career is over. He plans to fight for only two more years.

McGee admits that could change with a victory Nov. 1.

"If I win, I plan on defending that title a few times," he said.

"Avictory over Brian gets Marcus a top-15 ranking in the WBA. That would change everything in terms of his future,"Deas agreed.

McGee has been knocked out only three times in his pro career. He's been knocked down more often than that.

"I haven't been knocked out cold," he said. "I always get up and want to keep going. Sometimes the referee doesn't let you do that. It's the ref's discretion and you have no control over that.

"I'm a strong defensive fighter and I'm patient. I don't rush anything. I study the other guy and look for a weakness I can exploit. But, yeah, I wish I had more of a knockout punch."

Only five of McGee's 21 pro wins have come via knockout.

Most of McGee's big fights have occurred in the hometowns of his opponents, including bouts in Russia, Germany and Canada.

"We've been all over the place,"Deas said. "Fighting near Minto's hometown won't bother us at all. We enjoy the travel and welcome the challenge."

General admission tickets for the six-bout card are $35 and are available through the Slippery Rock University athletic department at 724-738-2767, Sir Speedy at 229 S. Main St. in Butler 724-283-2666 or the Monroe Hotel 724-287-5529.

Ringside tables are available by calling 724-504-6708.