Brian Minto's scheduled return to the boxing ring Wednesday night in Erie was canceled Friday night.

Butler's unbeaten professional heavyweight was scheduled to face David Naile of Raleigh, N.C., in the eight-round main event of the 20th annual Erie Boxing Classic, but Naile's medical papers can't be cleared in time for him to make the bout.

"We can't get the results of his CT scan in time," promoter Mike Acri said. "There's no way he'll be permitted to fight."

Naile is 13-7 with eight knockouts. According to BoxRec.com, he has dropped his last three fights and hasn't fought since 2002.

The six-bout card is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. at the Avalon Hotel, but it no longer includes Minto.

"We'll have to adjust the card, move some other matches up," Acri said. "Nobody's more disappointed than me. Unfortunately, this sort of thing happens in boxing."

Minto, 18-0 with 11 knockouts, hasn't fought since a 10th-round knockout of Vinnie Maddalone July 23 in Atlantic City, N.J. Maddalone was 21-1 at the time.

"The fight's off," Minto said. "We've offered some names of possible opponents, but he (Acri) says they're not good enough. I've sold 270 tickets and now it looks like I have to find those people and refund their money."

Naile and Tipton Walker (13-10) of Michigan were prospective opponents for Minto who didn't work out.

Acri was going to try to find an opponent for Minto through Saturday night, but he decided to give up the search a day earlier.

"Nothing was happening, nobody in sight," he said. "Anyone who bought tickets should go to the origin of that sale for the refund. My understanding is a lot of people in Butler bought tickets from Brian."

Duva Boxing is negotiating with Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester, W.Va., to have Minto be the main event on a fight card there Dec. 30.

"That would likely become my next fight," Minto said.

Veteran trainer Lou Duva, whose organization recently signed Minto, isn't concerned about Minto's next opponent.

"I'm not worried about who Brian's fighting, I'm worried about Brian," Duva said. "Since we've had him here, working with him - I don't know how this guy won 18 fights.

"He wasn't getting enough leverage with his punches, wasn't using his jab or bobbing and slipping punches. We've made him better in all of those areas," he added.

Minto has been training daily with Duva and Tommy Brooks, Duva's son-in-law.

"I can't believe how much I've learned from those guys," Minto said. "I'm using my shoulders more to get more power behind my punches.

"The jab is important because it sets up everything else. They've been constantly reminding me about my jab. I trust them. They've trained some of the best."

Duva sees the jab as the key to Minto's success against high-quality opponents.

"In every one of his fights, when Brian uses his jab, he doesn't get hit. When he doesn't use it, he gets hit," Duva said.

Brooks, Lou and Dino Duva will be at ringside with Minto whenever he does fight again.

"You're going to see a totally different Brian Minto when he gets in the ring," Duva promised. "He's a colorful guy with a lot of promise. He's definitely a new face on the horizon."

Duva poked fun at the heavyweight fight card in New York City last weekend that saw Chris Byrd and John Ruiz defend titles with decisions over Jameel McCline and Andrew Golota.

Veteran heavyweights Evander Holyfield and Oliver McCall were defeated on the under-card.

"That whole show was pathetic," Duva said. "They should have called it the Geritol Championships. Brian could knock out some of those guys right now."