The Brian Minto-Donnell Holmes fight held Aug. 14 at Pullman Park has been ruled a no-contest — and neither fighter is happy about it.

The decision was given to Minto the night of the bout, when the ringside doctor ruled that the Butler fighter couldn't continue after the fourth round because of a gash above his eye.

Referee Rick Steigerwald ruled the gash was caused by an accidental head-butt. Minto was ahead on all three judges' cards at the time, giving him the WBO North American heavyweight crown.

Holmes appealed the ruling to the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission, which changed the result of the bout to a no-contest Monday.

"That basically means the fight never took place," said Greg Sirb, the commission's executive director. "Neither fighter gets a win or loss on his record."

Sirb didn't know whether Minto will be stripped of the North American title, saying "we have nothing to do with what any organization does with its belts.

"I don't discuss the process we use to make these decisions with anybody. The three commissioners reviewed the fight and each came to the same conclusion: That it should be a no-contest," Sirb added.

Minto expects to be stripped of the title and plans to appeal the commission's ruling.

"The whole thing is a joke," he said. "(Holmes) was allowed to be there with his attorney. I couldn't be there and they didn't even have the referee there.

"They threatened to sue the commission and they want to stay out of a courtroom. That's all this is. (Holmes' camp) had their time to whine and cry about it and get their way. Now it's my turn to whine and cry and get my way.

"Losing this title could cost me a berth in a title eliminator or a shot at a world title. I'm not going to stand by and let that happen," Minto added.

While Minto insists the cut was the result of a head butt — "I know we butted heads and so does he," he said — Holmes says a left jab caused the cut.

"It's clear on the tape that I saw," Holmes said. "I should have won that fight by technical knockout. We brushed heads, but that happens in every boxing match. Our heads never knocked together.

"Brian could have continued. Basically, he quit. He knows there wasn't no head-butt."

Holmes said he'll live with the ruling because it takes the blemish off his record. He still wants a rematch and said he would fight Minto in Butler again.

"All those fans, his supporters, deserve to see a real fight," he said. "If that fight went another three rounds, I'd have knocked him out. The man has no punching power. He couldn't hurt me and there's no way he can beat me.

"I'm not trying to be arrogant. It's just full confidence, now that I've been in the ring with him. His fans make him who he is. The guy's not that good a fighter.

"With all the controversy surrounding this, maybe ESPN or Show-box will pick up a rematch. It should happen and it should happen in Butler," Holmes added.

Minto refuted the strategy Holmes claimed of allowing the Butler fighter to punch himself out early.

"I won the first four rounds on the judges' cards," Minto said. "Another three rounds in my favor and the fight's mine. Without the head-butt, I stay in control of that fight."

Minto plans to bring legal representation and Steigerwald with him when his appeal is heard by the commission.

If a rematch doesn't happen, Holmes plans to fight "whoever comes forward."

"I'm not looking to get rich off one fight," he said. "The money should match the caliber of opponent. As long as it does, I'll fight anybody.

"I seriously doubt Brian Minto and I will fight each other again. He wants no part of me. It's as simple as that."