SLIPPERY ROCK — Brian Minto might have more to gain than a victory when he defends his WBAFedecentro heavyweight title Saturday night.

Minto (31-2, 20 KOs) takes on Galen Brown (31-9, 19 KOs) in the 10-round main event of a boxing card slated for 8 p.m. at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House.

The opportunity to fight champion Wladimir Klitschko for the WBOworld title might hang in the balance.

The 6-foot-6 Klitschko (51-3, 45 KOs) was scheduled to defend his title against 2004 Olympic gold medalist Alexander Povetkin (16-0) of Russia Dec. 13 in Germany, but Povetkin has withdrawn from that fight due to injury.

Minto is trying to take his place.

"It looks like it's between Brian and Hasim Rahman to get that fight,"Minto's manager, Pat Nelson, said Friday. "Everyone else ranked ahead of Brian already has a fight booked.

"The catch is that Brian needs to get into the WBO's top 10 before Klitschko will fight him."

A win over Brown Saturday likely would accomplish that. Minto enters the bout ranked No. 11 by the WBO, No. 15 by the WBA.

"This is all part of the business,"Minto said. "In effect, I'm paying to fight this guy (Brown), so I can try to get another win and move up in the rankings.

"Hey, whatever it takes. I'm ready."

Klitschko is the WBOand IBFchampion, but the Dec. 13 bout would be only for the WBOtitle. Klitschko is fighting Povetkin for the IBFcrown in February.

"I'm sure (Klitschko)is looking for the cheapest opponent he can get,"Minto said. "I'm not worried about that. I've fought in Germany before and they have a 30,000-seat arena already sold out. The money would be there."

Brown, 27, pulled out of his scheduled Nov. 14 bout against Jesse Shoemaker (15-1) in his Missouri hometown to take on Minto.

"I like going on the road to fight, meet other people and experience different places,"Brown said. "And I can use this fight to determine what direction I want to go."

Brown owns and runs a boxing and mixed martial arts gym in his hometown, "so I'm always in there training." He is 9-1 as a professional MMAfighter.

Brown has held four titles during his boxing career:the NABCUnited States and Midwest Boxing Association cruiserweight and light heavyweight crowns.

He was ranked No. 7 by the WBAin the cruiserweight division last year and has fought only at heavyweight in his past six bouts.

"My goal is to try to get ranked in the top 15 as a heavyweight,"Brown said. "A win over Minto would probably do that for me. If I lose, I'll probably go back to cruiserweight."

If Minto loses, he'll lose the world title opportunity as well.

"Brian has everything in the world to lose Saturday night,"Nelson said. "He has everything in the world to gain, too."

Both fighters will be using Mexican horsehair gloves instead of the usual foam gloves.

"I ordered those gloves. They're tighter and they fit the fist better. They are definitely puncher's gloves."Minto said.

Brown described his style as mobile, moving around the ring, picking his spots. Minto is a straight-ahead style fighter.

"This match is definitely boxer vs. puncher,"Brown said.

There are 1,000 tickets remaining for the fight card. General admission is $35, ringside seats $100. Tickets will be sold at the Morrow Field House box office until fight time.