CALIFORNIA, Pa. — There's no trip to Los Angeles for Brian Minto this time.

The Butler pro boxer is staying closer to home while preparing for his Aug. 14 cruiserweight fight against Damon Reed at Pullman Park.

Minto, 35, is working out at Round Two, a gym in California, Pa., with a housing facility.

"I'm staying down here, but it's only an hour and a half from home as opposed to the other side of the country," Minto said.

"Los Angeles was OK, but it was more of a fast-paced gym," he added. "Here, I get more me time. I can work on my technique more thoroughly."

With that in mind, Minto has taken on a new trainer for this fight, John C. Davis of Jacksonville, N.C.

Davis, 70, has been training fighters for 44 years. He has been coach of the Marine Corps boxing team and trained Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, Mike Weaver and Michael Grant during their time in the service.

"I worked with five eventual world champions while they were in the Marines," Davis said.

Davis will begin working with Minto next Monday. Minto said he plans to begin sparring in two weeks.

"It's tougher finding sparring partners down here, but I've got a few guys I'm talking with right now," Minto said.

Davis becomes the fourth trainer Minto's had during his pro career, following Tom Yankello, the Duva family and Freddy Roach.

Minto doesn't see the change in trainers as a big deal.

"They can't get in the ring and fight for you," he said.

Minto (34-4, 21 knockouts) is trying to snap a two-loss streak. Reed, 38, is 45-13 with 32 KO's, but has fought sparingly in the past few years.

Minto weighs 212 pounds and needs to get down to 200 for the Aug. 14 bout. He says he's totally healed from physical losses to Chris Arreola and Marco Huck within the past eight months.

"I feel great. I've been cleared by every doctor I've seen," Minto said. "Sometimes you take some shots. It's part of the sport. It's dangerous (in the ring)."

Davis said he plans to work on Minto's ability to slip punches, bob, weave and counterpunch.

"The difference between mediocre fighters and those who excel is combinations," Davis said. "I'll work on Brian's speed, combinations and balance.

"The most effective punch in boxing is the jab. Even a 5-foot-10 fighter has to be able to jab. Rocky Marciano was 5-10 and had an outstanding jab.

"I can't teach a veteran fighter anything new, but I can improve what he's got and help him bring it up to par," Davis added.

Davis said he plans to "perfect what Minto has and help him stay focused on it."

Another loss is something Minto can ill-afford. He enters this fight as the 27th ranked cruiserweight in the world, fifth in the United States, by boxrec.com.

"I can't take another step backward," Minto admitted.

Tickets are available at Pullman Park during any event or at the Butler Redevelopment Authority at 101 E. Diamond Street, 724-283-0116.