Brian Minto has found a path to a world heavyweight title shot.

The 36-year-old Butler heavyweight will fight Tony Grano, 30, in an NABF heavyweight title eliminator Oct. 29 at the Mardi Gras Entertainment Complex in Springfield, Mass.

The winner of that bout, scheduled for 12 rounds, will eventually face NABF heavyweight champion Johnathon Banks (27-1), ranked No. 5 in the WBC.

“If Brian can run the table against Grano and Banks, he'll have a top-5 WBC ranking and a 37-4 record,” said Minto's manager, Pat Nelson. “That would put him in line to face (WBC champion) Vitali Klitschko.”

Klitschko, 40, is 43-2 with 40 KO's and is nearing retirement.

“Our goal is to be his last fight before he retires,” Nelson said.

But first things first.

Grano is 18-2-2 with 14 KO's and is coming off a sixth-round TKO of Dominique Alexander (20-10) April 9. On June 26 of last year, however, Grano suffered a second-round TKO loss to Nicolai Firtha (20-9).

“I've sparred plenty of rounds with Firtha,” Minto said. “He really doesn't hit that hard. Maybe this guy (Grano) has a questionable chin. We'll see.”

The Grano-Firtha fight was for the NABA heavyweight title. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound Grano does own a fourth-round TKO over then-unbeaten Travis Kauffman (18-0) in September of 2009 in a bout aired live on Showtime.

“That win lifted Grano into the picture and the Firtha loss knocked him back down,” Nelson said. “This is a fight that means a lot to both of these guys.

“Grano is a boxer/puncher who comes with a big right hand.”

Minto (35-4, 22 KO's) shrugged off the thought.

“Just about every heavyweight has a powerful right hand,” he said. “I have to be on my toes, slip it, don't get hit with it and keep coming forward.

“I like to pressure my opponent and my understanding is this guy doesn't like to be pressured.”

The Minto-Grano fight will occur exactly one year after Minto's last fight — a two-round victory over Pierre Karam at Ghost Riders in Butler.

Minto has fought a total of 15 rounds in the past 24 months.

“It's been frustrating, but the rest has done me good,” Minto said. “I've put on 10 pounds of muscle. I weigh about 220 with only nine percent body fat.

“Since 2002, I was fighting every four months. That's a busy pace. I needed a break and now I've had it.

“I've been sparring a lot lately. That's how I'm working off the ring rust. I sparred six rounds yesterday and I'll go another four rounds tomorrow,” Minto added.

While the fight is scheduled for 12 rounds, Minto says it won't go that long.

“I'm gonna knock him out,” he said. “The guys I've been sparring are saying my punching power is crazy.

“Realistically, in a heavyweight fight at this level, anybody can win. But I like my chances. I'm ready right now and between now and (Oct. 29), I'm only going to get better.”

Minto's last notable victory was Aug. 14, 2009, when he defeated then-unbeaten Donnell Holmes (31-0-2) by technical decision after four rounds at Pullman Park.

Tickets for the Minto-Grano fight are priced at $100, $50 and $25 and can be obtained by calling 860-614-2281.

Fight promoters are negotiating with local and national TV affiliates, along with Internet pay-per-view. Any finalized broadcast deal is expected to be announced within three weeks.