Marcus McGee of Tuscaloosa, Ala., will be Brian Minto's opponent Nov. 1 at Slippery Rock University's Morrow Field House.

McGee, 37, is 21-16 with 10 knockouts as a professional. He has faced numerous top-flight opponents during his career.

Minto, 33, of Butler is ranked No. 11 by the World Boxing Organization and No. 15 by the World Boxing Association. His 31-2 record includes his current streak of four consecutive first-round knockouts.

The main event of the six-fight card is scheduled for 10 rounds and will be for Minto's WBAFedecentro title.

"McGee has fought a lot of big names in the business and he's gone the distance with them,"said Pat Nelson, Minto's manager. "Brian's been getting calls about fighting in possible eliminators or title fights in the spring.

"He needs someone who's going to stay in there with him and give him some rounds to prepare him for what's ensuing."

The 6-foot-3, 235-pound McGee has gone the distance against former world champion Danny Williams (40-6), title challengers Jameel McCline (38-9) and Michael Grant (44-3), along with foes David Rodriguez (26-0), T.J.Wilson (10-1) and Malik Scott (24-0).

McGee has been knocked out only five times in 37 pro bouts, just twice in his last 19 fights.

He also trains in the same gym and has been a regular sparring partner of Deontay Wilder, a bronze medalist at the Beijing Olympics.

Minto said McGee is making the long trip to Slippery Rock "because he thinks he can win."

While the Butler fighter has received criticism for his early knockouts, Minto offers no apologies.

"To be honest, I'm tired of that kind of talk," he said. "There are no guaranteed wins in this business. If I get hit by a guy over 200 pounds, I could be the one getting knocked out.

"It's all about training hard for eight to 12 weeks before a fight that's keyed my success. The guys I've fought have been battle-tested. They weren't pushovers."

The four fighters Minto has knocked out in the first round of his last few fights, Ray Lunsford, Byron Polley, Chad Van Sickle and John Poore, have a combined pro record of 82-23.

"Some people are saying I'm ripping them off. ... I don't know how these fights are gonna go," Minto said. "They should be happy for me. I think most people are. I've gotten tremendous community support."

Minto is ranked 42nd out of 1,108 pro heavyweights in the world. McGee is ranked 296th.

Minto acknowledged that fans are growing anxious to see him in a world title fight or face a fellow top-15 ranked contender.

"Believe me, I want that, too,"Minto said. "But people have to understand this sport. Fights like that happen once or twice a year, period, and there are more boxers in the heavyweight division than in any other division.

"You have to earn your spot, whether it's a mandatory title defense or someone offers you a shot. That's what I'm trying to do."

Two other Butler fighters are on the undercard for the show, scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. Jim Emrick (6-1-1, 2 KOs) will meet William Shahan (6-0, 5 KOs) of West Virginia in a six-round heavyweight bout.

Dave Cook (3-2, 2 KOs) will meet an undetermined opponent in a four-round middleweight bout. Cook was knocked out by unbeaten Dennis Hasson in the final round of a four-round fight in Philadelphia last weekend.

Tom Joseph (3-1-1) of Youngstown, Ohio, will meet Khristian Geraci (3-3-1, 2 KOs) of Pittsburgh in a four-round welterweight bout.

Two other matches have yet to be announced.

General admission tickets are $35 and are available at the SRUathletic department (724-738-2767), Sir Speedy at 229 S. Main Street in Butler (724-283-2666) and the Monroe Hotel (724-287-5529).

Ringside tables for 10 people are available for $1,000 and front row ringside seats are $250 each. Both are available by calling 724-504-6708.