Butler professional heavyweight fighter Brian Minto has received a No. 15 world ranking from the World Boxing Organization.

The top-15 ranking means Minto (27-1) is eligible for a world title fight. He faces Luan Krasniqi (29-2), ranked No. 6 by the WBO, in a 12-round bout March 17 in Stuttgart, Germany.

NEW YORK — Shannon Briggs withdrew Tuesday from his first defense of his WBO heavyweight title because he has pneumonia.Briggs was scheduled for a mandatory defense against Russia's Sultan Ibragimov on March 10. Briggs won the crown last Nov. 4 by knocking out Sergei Liakhovich in the 12th round in Phoenix.Briggs is 48-4-1 with 42 knockouts. The unbeaten Ibragimov has won 19 fights with one draw and has 16 knockouts.