Reunited with longtime trainer Tommy Yankello, Butler heavyweight boxer Brian Minto is returning to action April 28 at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in Chester, W.Va.

Minto, 37, will take on Matt Hicks, 36, of Tennessee in a six-round bout as part of a 7:30 p.m. pro boxing card at The Harv.

“People make mistakes. I’m human,” Minto said. “When it comes to Tommy and I parting ways, I believe I made one. If something is working, why change it?

“Money changes people. It makes people think differently. I’ve learned that.”

Minto (35-5, 22 KOs) has lost three of his last four fights, including a third-round TKO at the hands of Tony Grano in a NABF title eliminator bout Jan. 28 in Verona, N.Y.

Minto suffered a concussion in that fight and underwent surgery to correct a deviated septum shortly afterward.

“I just sparred seven rounds and I’m fine physically,” Minto said. “I’m more than ready to get back in the ring. I know I have something to prove.

“Tommy still believes I can be successful. I know a lot of people don’t. It’s up to me to win people over again.”

Yankello and Minto have not consistently worked together for approximately three years.

“It’s like riding a bike,” Yankello said of rejoining Minto. “I know Brian and he knows me. He’s kept himself in tremendous shape.

“I see no reason why he can’t get back to where he was when he beat (Vinny) Maddalone a second time and beat Axel Schulz. We can get him back to that point and beyond.”

Hicks (13-6, 12 KOs) is a former Arena League quarterback with the Louisville Fire. He got off to a fast start once entering pro boxing, but has lost his last four bouts.

The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Hicks lost by second-round TKO to undefeated David Rodriguez (33-0) Feb. 11 in El Paso, Texas, in his most recent fight.

Only one of Hicks’ 19 pro fights has gone beyond the third round. That was a six-round unanimous decision over Joe Stofler in June of 2007. Hicks’ last win was in August of 2008.

“This is a fight I’ll be expected to win,” Minto admitted. “But I was expected to win my last one, too. This is a big guy with big-time power.

“Defense will be important and that’s what Tommy excels in. He’s getting me back to where I was.”

Yankello has been working with Minto in the ring for the past five-plus weeks.

“He picked up some bad habits the past couple of years,” Yankello said. “Brian’s been worried too much about offense, about building punching power. That stuff will come naturally. He has to take care of himself in the ring.”

Yankello said Minto has “three to five years left” to compete at a high level in the heavyweight division.

“The heavyweight landscape has changed dramatically in terms of age,” the Ambridge trainer said. “Contenders and champions are competing into their low 40s and doing very well.

“Vitali Klitschko is a heavyweight champ at age 40. He’s at his best and no one can touch him. Bernard Hopkins is making a strong comeback at age 47. I’m training Roy Jones Jr. now and he’s got plenty left at age 43.”

Yankello said the plan is for Minto to fight again this summer, then maybe early fall and again in December.

“If all goes well, he could fight four or five times this year,” Yankello said. “A couple of wins and he can land a major fight again. That’s the big picture right now.”

Tickets for the fight card are available locally by calling 724-290-6108. Tickets are $25 for general admission. Other prices are $35, $50, $100 (ringside). VIP tickets, which include food and drink for the night, are $150 or $200.