CENTER TWP — Brian Minto suffered a fractured right eye socket and a concussion in his WBO world cruiserweight title loss to Marco Huck in Oldenburg, Germany, May 1.

The 35-year-old Butler boxer said he suffered the eye injury during the second round.

"I went back to my corner after that round and told them there was something wrong, that I was having trouble seeing out of that eye," Minto said.

"I started getting double vision and the eye hurt. It never did get better. I just gutted it out the rest of the way."

Minto said he decided to retire after the ninth round because the eye was getting worse and he was too far behind on points.

"The knockout wasn't coming at that point," he said. "My health and family come first. It wasn't worth the risk anymore, so we stopped it.

"I hated that ending. I'm not a quitter. I wish I didn't have to do that."

Minto's manager, Pat Nelson, described Huck as "a brutal fighter who throws good, strong punches and good, strong elbows."

Nelson added that Huck delivered numerous blows to the top and back of Minto's head.

"He did it in quick bursts, so it was hard for the referee to tell," Nelson said. "We had a good referee. I can't fault him.

"Huck fought a smart fight. He put together flurries at the end of rounds. I can't take anything away from him.

"I can't take anything away from Brian, either. He was a true warrior," Nelson added. "His first cruiserweight fight was against the best guy on earth in that division. Brian Minto has always been willing to fight the best."

Minto said he was knocked down three times at least partly due to elbows and rabbit punches.

"I remember ducking a right hand, then waking up on the floor," he said. "It wasn't a clean punch that put me there.

"The guy's a great fighter. I was really surprised by his strength. But he's a dirty fighter."

An MRI done on the fractured eye socket revealed that it isn't threatening to the optic nerve. After two weeks, it should be healed and Minto hopes to return to training.

German-based Sauerland Events owes Minto another fight before the end of the year. Nelson is hopeful a Minto-Evander Holyfield bout in Butler can be arranged this summer

Holyfield, 47, scored a TKO over Francois Botha in the eighth round of their April 10 heavyweight bout in Las Vegas. The win marked the first fight in 16 months for Holyfield (43-10-2, 28 knockouts.

"That matchup is very feasible," Nelson said. "Holyfield is a lighter heavyweight, and that's what Brian's natural weight is. The winner of a Minto-Holyfield bout would be marketable for a shot at David Hay's (WBA heavyweight) title.

"Holyfield earned $50,000 in that Botha fight. We could better that payday in Butler and Brian wouldn't be facing an up-and-coming lion like he just faced."

Nelson said a potential Minto-Holyfield bout "is being talked about."

Minto said his walking-around weight will be around 209 pounds, making it easier for him to fight in either the heavyweight or cruiserweight divisions.

"I'd love another shot at Huck at some point," he said.

For the next couple of weeks, Minto is spending time with family and healing physically.

He's recovering a bit mentally as well, coming off his second straight loss.

"I'm disappointed," Minto said. "People don't realize the work and sacrifice that goes into this. I was away from my wife and family for six weeks. I missed a family vacation. My flight was canceled and I had jet lag for a week.

"I'm not going to whine and cry about the outcome of the fight. The guy beat me. The disappointment is part of being an athlete. Everybody has ups and downs in life.

"It's how you face failure and rebound from it that determines what kind of person you really are," he added.