Making headlines is what Butler boxer Brian Minto is all about.

By a vote of the Butler Eagle sports department, Minto earned Butler County Sports Story of the Year accolades for the second straight year.

Minto grabbed the honor in 2008 with his first-round knockout of John Poore at sold-out Pullman Park.

A return bout at Pullman Park, as well as a controversial ending and a fight against world title contender Chris Arreola on HBO in 2009, landed Minto repeat honors.

With 65 Butler County area sports happenings on the ballot, only two events, the Minto saga and Mars hockey capturing the Penguins Cup, earned a top-15 vote from each of the five staff members participating in the ballot.

Minto won each of the first four rounds against unbeaten Donnell Holmes in their August bout at Pullman Park. During that fourth round, Minto suffered a gash above an eye by what referee Rick Steigerwald ruled a head-butt.

When the ringside doctor said Minto couldn't continue after the fourth round, the bout was stopped and Minto was awarded the decision — and the vacant NABA heavyweight title — since he was ahead on the judges' score cards.

"I can't see that cut and the doctor can," Minto said after the fight. "If he says it's not safe to go back out there, I'm gonna take his advice."

Insisting he cut Minto with a punch, Holmes appealed the ruling to the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission, which quickly reversed the referee's call and declared the bout a no-contest.

That ruling was then appealed by Minto and a formal hearing was held three months after the fight.

"They threatened to sue the commission and they want to stay out of a courtroom," Minto said about his decision to appeal. "(Holmes' camp) had their time to whine and cry about it and get their way.

"Now it's my turn to cry and whine and get my way."

He eventually did. But it took a while.

The official result of the Aug. 8 bout was returned to Minto's favor — and his NABO heavyweight title restored — only last Tuesday.

Holmes was left wanting more.

"All those fans, his supporters, deserve to see a real fight," Holmes said. "If that fight went another three rounds, I'd have knocked him out. A rematch should happen and it should happen in Butler."

Instead, Minto headed to Atlantic City and a virtual heavyweight title contender eliminator bout against Arreola of Riverside, Calif.

Arreola lost a world title fight to Vitali Klitschko in his previous bout and wanted to reinforce his status as a contender. Minto wanted to show he belonged among the heavyweight division's elite.

The early December bout was televised live on HBO and turned into a slugfest. The taller and heavier Arreola withstood some Minto shots and eventually won the fight by fourth-round TKO.

Portions of the Atlantic City crowd booed Minto when he entered the ring that night. All cheered uproariously for him when he left it.

Now Minto is looking to succeed in the cruiserweight division, as well as defend his NABO heavyweight championship.

"With my weight, I believe I can fluctuate between both divisions," he said. "I've still got some doors open for me."

If he successfully walks through them, the 34-year-old fighter may be headed for a three-peat in 2010.