Butler heavyweight boxer Brian Minto is preparing to sign a contract this week to face fellow world top-10 contender Chris Arreola in the ring Dec. 5.

The 12-round bout would be a title-for-title fight and serve as the co-feature on an HBO show in either Los Angeles or Atlantic City, N.J.

The other featured bout is WBC welterweight champion Paul Williams against Sergio Martinez.

Arreola (27-1, 24 KOs) holds the WBC's NABF heavyweight title while Minto (34-2, 21 KOs) has the WBO NABO heavyweight belt.

"They're sending the contract today (Monday) and I'm picking it up," said Minto's manager, Pat Nelson. "Brian and I will peruse it tomorrow and if everything's in order, the fight will be on."

The fight card that was to feature Minto's next bout — Nov. 19 against Cliff Couser in Halifax, Nova Scotia — was canceled recently.

"I've been in training for that fight, so I'm in shape," Minto said. "The only thing I haven't been doing is sparring."

Minto hasn't fought since his four-round technical decision over previously unbeaten Donnell Holmes for the NABO title Aug. 14 at Pullman Park. Holmes filed an appeal of that decision with the Pennsylvania Athletic Commission that was to be heard Oct. 21.

That hearing was postponed until Nov. 10.

"Attorneys for both sides requested the extension and we granted it," said commission executive director Greg Sirb.

"We had to subpoena the referee to make sure he was going to show up," Minto said.

Sirb said a ruling on the Minto-Holmes decision should be made the day of the hearing. Should the bout be ruled a no-contest, the Minto-Arreola fight would be solely for the latter's NABF title.

Arreola, 28, is ranked No. 4 in the world by the WBC and No. 10 by the WBO. The 6-foot-4, 260-pound fighter from Riverside, Calif., was unbeaten before being stopped in the 10th round by Vitali Klitschko in their WBC world title fight Sept. 26.

Minto is ranked No. 7 by the WBO and No. 14 by the WBA.

"Arreola wants Minto's NABO title so he can get a shot at the other Klitschko," Nelson said, referring to IBF and WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko.

The original contract negotiation called for Arreola's handlers to be in charge of Minto's next three fights — should Minto win — with an automatic rematch clause tossed in.

Minto balked at both of those options.

"They're sending a contract ... without those terms," Minto said. "This fight makes a lot of sense for both of us.

"It's boxing. If I get knocked out, I get knocked out — or I knock him out. Getting the chance to get back on a major network is something I can't pass up.

"And if I beat him, I'm getting a shot at the world title, no doubt in my mind," Minto added.

Minto's doesn't yet have a trainer lined up. Freddy Roach is committed to other upcoming fights involving world-class boxers over the next two months.

Minto said he has "a few options" in terms of who would train him to fight Arreola.

"It's not a concern," Nelson said. "Minto's had 36 professional fights and he's 34 years old. He's a veteran boxer who knows what needs done in terms of road work and preparation.

"We're looking for a trainer to provide pad work and good insight during the fight."

When asked if Minto's former trainer, Tommy Yankello, would come back on board, Nelson said, "Anything's possible. Brian's kept all avenues open."