CENTER TWP — Corey Phelps of Kentucky is out. Pierre Karam of Australia is in.

And Brian Minto's WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight championship fight Friday night at Ghost Riders is still on.

Phelps had to pull out of the fight after failing the medical requirements to get a license to box in Pennsylvania.

"We found out Karam had a fight scheduled in Detroit Nov. 12 and his opponent fell out on him," said Minto's manager, Pat Nelson. "We asked if he wanted to come here to fight Brian and he jumped on it.'"

Karam, 33, is 18-3, but has fought only once in the past five years. That was a victory over Tom Hill (2-4), who retired after two rounds of their scheduled eight-round bout on April 3, 2009.

"I was 280 pounds and got down to 215 in five months to take that fight," Karam said. "I was out of boxing for five years because my life was in a bad, bad place.

"Because of the support of a loving family and friends back home, I got straightened out again. For years, I wanted nothing to do with boxing. Now I want back in."

Karam spent eight months in prison in 2006. He declined to give details, but said that "per capita, the crime and drug rate in Australia is the worst in the world. I fell in with some bad people."

A boxer since age 8, Karam put together a 68-14 amateur record, winning the Australian amateur national championship at 17. He lost a decision in the final box-off to represent his country in the 1996 Olympic Games.

Karam turned pro at age 18 and trained under world-renowned boxing handler Emanuel Steward at Kronk Gym in Detroit. He was the prime sparring partner for world champions Thomas Hearns and Virgil Hill.

Fighting between 168 and 175 pounds, Karam was 15-0 as a pro before losing by a six-round TKO to Demetrius Jenkins (16-4) for the IBC Intercontinental supermiddleweight title in 2000.

"I was 22 years old, on my own in a new country, riding around in limousines, being treated like royalty," Karam said. "Next thing I know, I'm back home on the streets of Australia.

"I didn't handle that change very well."

He sees the Minto fight as a second chance.

"I have everything to gain, nothing to lose," Karam said. "I'm grateful to (Minto) for this opportunity."

The boxing show begins at 7:30 p.m. and includes 11 amateur and five professional bouts.

"In terms of matches, this is the largest fight card ever held in the Butler area," Nelson said.

Minto and Karam will hit the ring for their 10-round main event at about 10:30 p.m. They will weigh in at 5 p.m. today at Ghost Riders. The weigh-in is open to the public.

Joe Luketic, 29, a Kittanning graduate, will make his pro debut at 151 pounds in a four-round bout against Cliff Gregory (1-6-5).

Trainer Chris Bowers has been working with Luketic since the latter got off to a 3-9 start as an amateur fighter.

"He's won 11 of 14 fights since we began working together," Bowers said. "Joe's a tough kid with a good chin."

Gunner Gagen, an amateur bantamweight from Butler being trained by K.P. Peth, also is scheduled to fight Friday.

Tickets are $20, $50 and $75 and are available at Bill's Beer Barn or by calling 724-287-6923.

Tickets also will be available at the gate.

PRO-AM FIGHT CARDPro BoutsBrian Minto (34-4) vs. Pierre Karam (18-3), 10 rounds, WBC Continental Americas cruiserweight titleSam Suska (0-2) vs. John Stallings (1-2), four rounds, 168 poundsJohn Fairley (0-2) vs. Greg Hackett (0-3), four rounds, 166 poundsJoe Luketic (debut) vs. Cliff Gregory (1-6-5), four rounds, 151 poundsAnthony Clark (2-7) vs. Justin Johnson (1-1-1), four rounds, 139 pounds

Amateur Bouts(three rounds)BantamweightA.J. Horn (Erie) vs. Gunner Gagen (Butler)Matt Conway (Pittsburgh) vs. Ricardo Vega (Cleveland, Ohio)

FlyweightTed Mrkonja (Pittsburgh) vs. Joel Guzman (Cleveland)

SuperflyweightCarter Cherry (Pittsburgh) vs. Brandon Vega (Cleveland)

Junior welterweightMarco Hall (Youngstown, Ohio) vs. Mike Joins (Columbus, Ohio)Lou Zackerelli (Pittsburgh) vs. Julius Thomas (Youngstown)

Super welterweightRonnie Haymel (Youngstown) vs. John Gregory (Youngstown)

Light heavyweightMontell Jones (Erie) vs. Vic Toney (Youngstown)Doyle Freeman (Columbus) vs. Charlie Nest (Youngstown)

HeavyweightMike Mercurio (Kittanning) vs. Conner Young (Youngstown)

Super heavyweightMichael Shook (Pittsburgh) vs. Corey Hill (Columbus)