Minto spars with legend
CENTER TWP — Though his last professional fight was four years ago, Brian Minto never totally left boxing.
Minto, 45, of Center Township runs a gym out of his home and occasionally spars with a boxer he's working with.
He stepped up that game a bit Thursday, sparring with boxing legend Roy Jones, Jr., to help the latter get ready for his Nov. 28 exhibition match against Mike Tyson.
Jones, 51, is trained by Cranberrry Township resident Tom Yankello, who runs a gym in Ambridge. Yankello trained Minto for much of his career.
“Tommy asked me if I'd come down to his gym and spar a few rounds (with Jones),” Minto said. “I was glad to help out. Actually, it was a thrill for me, being in the ring with one of the greatest ever in the sport.”
Jones won world championships in four divisions — middleweight, super middleweight, light heavyweight and heavyweight — during his pro career. Tyson, 54, was the youngest boxer to ever win the world heavyweight title.
The two never met in the ring during their respective careers. Their eight-round exhibition bout is slated to be a pay-per-view- event.
“It's being billed as an exhibition, but I don't think that's what it's going to be,” Minto saids. “Roy Jones is training hard. He still has really fast hands.
“He hit me with a couple of body shots and I felt it. Overall, the sparring session was respectful. I'm there to help prepare him, so I tried to do the kind of things his opponent will likely try on him.”
Minto was 42-11 in a pro career that ended in September of 2016 with a TKO of Andreas Csomor at Pullman Park.
He sparred five three-minute rounds with Jones. The two plan to do it again this Thursday.
“They were pretty active rounds,” Mino said. “To be honest, I could have gone a little longer. I was holding my own and I was in shape for it.
“It's been a long time since I sparred that hard. I guess it's like riding a bike. When you do it for so long, you never forget.”
At 201 pounds, Minto gave away roughly 10 pounds to Jones. Jones may be as many as 30 pounds lighter than Tyson when they meet.
“I'm a straight-ahead type of fighter, but you can't go straight in at Jones. He's such a seasoned fighter. He's seen it all,” Minto said. “Tyson comes right at you. That should make for an interesting match.
“A lot of people are gonna buy that. Those guys are in their 50's and that fight could gross $500 million. It's pretty crazy.”
