Minto targets Green, Lebedev

WBA#14 Brian “The Beast” Minto (37-5) is looking for another world title shot in 2013. A former WBO world title challenger, Minto is targeting WBA champ Denis Lebedev (25-1) and IBO kingpin Danny Green (33-5). Minto states, “After several fights last year and coming from wins, I feel that I am ready for the very best in the cruiserweight division; I match up stylisticly and size-wise very well with Green and Lebedev.”

A 10 year pro, Minto compiled an 18-0 record in the first 20 months of his career. He came to fame in 2004 on ESPN with a “Knockout of Decade” candidate victory over Vinny Maddalone who was 21-1 at the time (Minto KO’d Maddalone a second time in their rematch on HBO PPV). He became a mainstay on ESPN earning victories over other American prospects Billy Zumbrun, Danny Batchelder (24-1 at the time) and John Poore who was 20-2. In 2006, Minto brought his skills to Germany by knocking out former IBF title Challenger Axel Schulz (26-4) before dropping a close 12 round decision to Luan Krasniqi (29-2) in 2007.

Minto rebounded with 7 straight regional heavyweight title victories culminating in 2009 with a 4th round stoppage WBO NABO title victory over previously undefeated heavyweight contender Donnell Holmes, 31-0 at the time. With the wins, Minto earned another HBO fight as a heavyweight contender; he dropped a 4th round TKO loss to Chris Arreola who was 27-1. Since then, Minto moved to the cruiserweight division and failed in 2010 in his bid to capture the WBO title from Marco Huck, 28-1 at the time. Thereafter, Minto rebounded with a WBC Continental cruiserweight title victory over Aussie Cruiser Pierre Karam (18-3), and he also captured the WBA NABA-US title this past August.