CENTER TWP — All he went looking for was a little extra Christmas money.

Professional boxing gave Brian Minto a whole lot more.

Minto, 41, will end his 14-year boxing career Sept. 17 at Kelly Automotive Park when he takes on Hungary cruiserweight champion Guyula Bozai in a 10-round main event.

“It looked like something I could get into,” the Butler graduate and Center Township resident said of pro boxing. “It was an opportunity to get some extra spending money for Christmas.

“I never thought the sport would take me where it did.”

Minto wound up winning his first 18 pro fights, 27 of his first 28 bouts, fought for the WBO world cruiserweight title and took on opponents in Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom and New Zealand.

And it all started Nov. 27, 2002, with a scheduled four-round bout against Leroy Loscar at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh.

“I only had 18 amateur fights,” Minto said. “I didn’t have a strong commitment to boxing then. I became interested in the sport in seventh grade, but I was still playing football, too.

“I spent a lot of time at the Butler Cubs Hall. So did a lot of other kids from my neighborhood. We enjoyed it.”

Minto played for South Side in the Butler Area Midget Football League and was coached by Harry Leyland. He became one of few sophomores to start varsity for Butler High School. Minto played defensive tackle then and eventually became an all-conference linebacker.

“I played for Harry Leyland when I was nine years old,” Minto said. “When he instructed us, people from three neighborhoods away could hear him.

“He loved the game. He was knowledgeable. A good coach ... There’s not enough of them like him anymore.”

Minto recalled how he felt leading up to his first pro fight.

“Man, I was nervous,” he said. “I didn’t know what to expect. The anticipation was nerve-wracking,” he said. “Then I won by a quick knockout and it was OK.”

It was OK to the tune of 18 straight wins — before a controversial split-decision loss to former world heavyweight champion Tony Tubbs in Chester, W.Va.

Tubbs, who was 47-10 in his 26-year career, grabbed and held on to Minto often throughout the bout.

“I learned a lot that night. You can’t always force things,” Minto said. “He jabbed and held on all night. He was a veteran. He did what he had to do to win.”

Five months before he fought Tubbs, Minto scored a come-from-behind final round knockout of Vinny Maddalone in Atlantic City. The fight was televised and was eventually awarded ESPN’s Fight of the Year.

“That was the fight that got my name out there,” Minto admitted.

Minto’s first fight overseas derailed the comeback attempt of beloved German champion Axel Schulz. Minto won that fight by KO as well.

“I stepped into the ring and there were 15,000 people whistling at me,” Minto said. “But from the opening bell, I just stayed on him. I could see the doubt in Schulz’s eyes and I knew I had him.

“When I knocked him down in the seventh round, those fans became my fans. I was always a smaller heavyweight, fighting guys much bigger than myself. When you’re the physical underdog like that, people start cheering for you.”

After another run of wins — including triumphs over John Poore and undefeated Donnell Holmes at Pullman Park — Minto took on heavyweight title contender Chris Arreola in Atlantic City and was knocked out in the fourth round.

Less than five months later, he returned to Germany to fight WBO world cruiserweight champion Marco Huck for his title. It was Minto’s first-ever cruiserweight bout.

“Huck was the toughest guy I’ve been in the ring with,” said Minto, who was knocked down three times before retiring from the bout after nine rounds. “He was pretty dirty, too. I got hit by a nasty elbow in that fight.”

Since the Huck fight in 2010, Minto’s won-loss record has been only slightly above .500. He did score a stunning upset of Shane Cameron (29-3) in New Zealand in 2013.

That fight won him the WBO Oriental heavyweight title. Minto has also owned the WBA’s USA heavyweight title, WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight crown, the WBA Fedecentro heavyweight title, WBO NABO heavyweight crown and USA Pennsylvania heavyweight title during his career.

Now 41-11 with 26 career KO’s, Minto has fought locally at the Days Inn, Butler High School, Pullman Park, Ghost Riders and Slippery Rock University’s Morrow Field House.

He did play football for two years at SRU “before I got burned out on the sport.”

“Being stubborn and bullheaded probably hurt me a lot along the way,” Minto said. “And I readily admit, a lot of the fights I took late in my career were financially motivated.

“It’s my living. It’s a rough way to earn money, but I’ve enjoyed it. Boxing isn’t like baseball or football, where you can sign a long-term contract. You take the money when you get it because you can’t do this forever.”

Tickets for the Minto-Bozai fight card are available weekdays from 3 to 6 p.m. at Kelly Automotive Park, or by visiting BrianMintoThe End@gmail.com.

Minto is promoting the final fight card of his career himself, so he could fight locally. This will be his first fight in Butler since he defeated Pierre Karam at Ghost Riders in 2010.

“It’s important to me to finish up in my hometown,” Minto said. “I’ve had a ton of support from Butler. This is how I want to say goodbye.”

The Butler Football Hometown Hero committee plans to present Minto with a plaque honoring his career at the conclusion of his Sept. 17 bout. The pro-am card begins at 5 p.m.