Brian Minto is returning to Germany for his next fight — and might be one win away from a world heavyweight title shot.

Minto, 32, of Butler will take on Luan Krasniqi, 35, of Rottweil, Germany, for the World Boxing Organization Intercontinental title March 17 in Stuttgart, Germany.

Krasniqi (29-2-1, 14 KOs) is ranked No. 6 by the WBO. Minto (27-1, 16 KOs), despite nine successive victories, remains unranked by the major international boxing organizations.

Minto is ranked 26th in the world by boxrec.com.

"Without being ranked, you just can't get a title fight,"Minto said. "You can't get anywhere. That's what this fight is all about.

"If I win this fight, I'm guaranteed to be ranked by the WBO and I may be fighting for a world title soon. But I can't look ahead."

Krasniqi is 6-foot-3 and has not fought since April 29, 2006, when he won a unanimous decision over David Bostice. Krasniqi underwent knee surgeryshortly afterward.

All 32 of his professional fights have been overseas. Before defeating Bostice, Krasniqi fought Lamon Brewster for the WBOtitle in September 2005 and was stopped by technical knockout in the ninth round.

"He was ahead on all of the cards. ... He just got caught with a shot,"said Tom Yankello, Minto's trainer. "(Krasniqi)came real close to walking out of there with the WBOtitle.

"He's a good fighter, an excellent boxer. But if Brian can win this fight in dramatic fashion — and I think he will — a fight with (Wladimir)Klitschko would be a natural."

Klitschko, 47-3 with 42 KOs, is the current International Boxing Federation champion and is defending his title March 10 against Ray Austin in Germany. Klitschko is from Ukraine.

Minto stopped German icon Axel Schulz in the sixth round of their bout Nov. 25 in Germany. A former world heavyweight contender, Schulz was attempting a comeback after seven years out of the ring.

"They're trying to make me the villain in this fight,"Minto said. "Krasniqi is out to avenge the honor of Axel and I'm the bad guy.

"None of that stuff bothers me. I've gotten emails from German fans who want me to knock this guy through the ropes. Being a smaller heavyweight helps me win people over. They see a little guy beating on a bigger guy. ... People like rooting for the underdog."

Yankello said the atmosphere of the fight will have no affect on Minto.

"Brian knows what he's up against and he's already done it once,"Yankello said. "It's going to be the same atmosphere he's going to see this time. It won't be an issue."

The below-zero wind chills have not stopped Minto from getting his running work done outside. He is headed to training camp in California, Pa., today and will leave for Germany 11 days before the fight.

"I like running in the cold. It's like you're running at a high elevation. It makes your heart work faster,"Minto said.

Krasniqi's last six opponents have a combined won-loss record of 159-19. Minto has been watching videos of his fights and described Krasniqi as "physically in shape, with a good jab and good right hand."

He doesn't think Krasniqi can handle body punches well, however.

"He doesn't like to be hit in the body,"Minto said. "Brewster hit him there a couple of times. ... He (Krasniqi) complained to the referee and then basically quit. He was ahead on the cards and he quit.

"I'm gonna try to take it to his body. I've got to keep coming at him. European fighters don't counterpunch well. If you're coming at them aggressively, they go into defensive mode and cover up."

Minto recognizes the significance of what a win over Krasniqi could do for him.

"It would get me ranked by everyone and all Klitschko is required to do is defend his title against a (top 15) ranked fighter,"he said. "If I'm No. 15, he'd probably look at me as an easy title defense.

"This fight is for all the marbles, as far as I'm concerned."