CENTER TWP — No official retirement announcement is coming from Brian Minto.

Not yet, at least.

The 40-year-old Butler boxer admitted Monday he may not have a choice in the matter.

“I don’t want to retire on that note,” he said of a controversial split-decision loss in New Zealand. “But I don’t know if there’s anything out there for me, either.

“My phone may not ring anymore. If I’m going to fight again, I’ll probably have to make something happen.”

Minto (41-9, 26 KO’s) has not fought since he competed in an eight-man cruiserweight tournament March 28 in New Zealand. He won his first two bouts that night easily — a second-round TKO of Monty Filimaea (10-11-1) and unanimous decision over Daniel Ammann (30-8-1) — before losing a split decision in the title match to Israel Adesanya (2-1).

“I still have a sour taste in my mouth from that fight and it was how long ago,” Minto said. “I know they’re trying to build their kid up, but that was taken away from me.

“That’s not the way I want to go out. I’d love one more fight ... A guy with 50 pro fights losing to a guy who’s 2-1 doesn’t look good on my record now and other fighters may not want to risk losing to me right now. A retirement fight in Butler would be ideal, but there’s a lot of work and financial risk involved in that. This summer, I’ve just been too busy.”

Minto and his wife have a 13-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter — “I feel like a personal cab service sometimes,” he joked — and he’s been trying to wrap up construction of a boxing gym in his home.

Minto is even training four young fighters once a week in that partially completed gym.

“They approached me and I’m working with them,” he said. “It’s nothing serious. I may look to train fighters on a regular basis when I am done, though. It’s something I’ve been looking at. I’ve got some rental properties in the (Butler) city, too.

“I’m at a crossroads in my life, preparing for the next phase of it a little bit.”

While a few people close to him have suggested retirement and he’s talked about it with his wife, Minto isn’t quite ready to officially call it quits.

“I still work out all the time and I’m still in good shape,” he said. “Man, it’s not about the money now. I fight because I like to fight.

“I love to work out and, hopefully, inspire other people. Sometimes you have to take chances in life. I was in my late 20’s when I turned pro. I didn’t know how things would turn out.

“As you get older, sure, looking back, there are things I could have done a little better. But, overall, it’s gone pretty well for me.”