Brian Minto is going out swinging at home. And that’s how it should be.

The 41-year-old professional boxer from Butler has secured Kelly Automotive Park for the final bout of his career Sept. 10.

Sporting a 41-11 record with 26 knockouts — primarily as a heavyweight — Minto wants to end his career with a cruiserweight fight. His first-ever cruiserweight bout was against world champion Marco Huck overseas, where Minto was stopped after nine rounds.

He was trying to become a world cruiserweight champion in his first-ever fight in that weight class.

Talk about long odds.

Then again, this guy has fought long odds most of his career.

He didn’t turn pro until he was 28 and did so then with very few amateur bouts under his belt.

He knocked out Vinny Maddalone in the final round after taking a number of heavy shots all night in what turned out to be ESPN’s Fight of the Year.

He was flown over to Germany to be the first opponent in former German champion Axel Schulz’s boxing comeback. Minto was supposed to be a walk-over win. Instead, Minto knocked him out.

Less than three years ago, Minto traveled to New Zealand to take on young contender Shane Cameron (29-2). Minto was supposed to be a step-ladder match along Cameron’s climb to the top. Instead, Minto won by TKO.

Always a small heavyweight, Minto repeatedly climbed into the ring against opponents much bigger in size. His devastating inside punching style chopped a lot of those guys down.

The man has always been a crowd-pleaser in the ring because of his straight-ahead style. Win or lose, his fights were always action-packed.

Now he wants to finish it off in his hometown.

Helping to put together, then headline a pro-am boxing card in Kelly Automotive Park is a fitting farewell. Minto has set up a boxing gym in his home. He has interest in working with young amateurs in the ring and in keeping his promoter’s license to possibly put together some shows down the road.

While pro boxing is commonly known for its dirty side — people taking advantage of each other at every turn — Minto has always seemed to be one of the good guys in the sport.

He knocked out John Poore in the first round before a sellout crowd at Pullman Park in 2008. He scored a win over previously unbeaten Donnell Holmes at Pullman in 2009 after securing the first four rounds before the fight was stopped due to a head-butt.

Those two fights landed Minto the honor of being named Butler Eagle Sports Story of the Year in 2008 and 2009.

Holmes wanted a rematch, a second chance in Butler, that never happened.

Thankfully, Minto is getting his opportunity for a farewell fight in what should be a memorable evening.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle