Brian “The Beast” Minto is a professional boxer that hails from Butler, Pennsylvania. A fierce heavyweight contender by trade, Brian Minto is known as a people’s fighter. He’s a loyal boxer that has a plethora of ring knowledge and skill.
“The Beast” turned pro in 2002, winning his first 18 bouts, and gaining the West Virginia heavyweight title. Brian Minto went on to face numerous heavyweight contenders such as: Vinny Maddalone, Danny Batchelder and Axel Schulz. Known for being a busy fighter, and an amiable presence outside of the ring, Brian “The Beast” Minto has captured the hearts of many in the boxing community.
In Brian Minto’s most recent match, he scored a fourth round technical decision over unbeaten Donnell Holmes and nabbed the NABO heavyweight title. “The Beast” looks to continue his success against top competition towards the ultimate goal of heavyweight supremacy.
MB: I understand there a little bit of controversy regarding your most recent win against Donnell Holmes, most of us didn’t get a chance to see that fight; can you tell us a little about that?
BM: umm, yeah we had a clash of heads at the beginning of the fourth round. I threw a left hook and he dips down with his head and as he was coming back up we clashed heads. He would have been coming from my right; I don’t know if he was trying to get under my hook or what, but it was kind of an accidental thing. We went through that round and the doctor stopped the fight because of the cut, and I was ahead, I think a…I won every round. I think on one score card they gave him (Donnell Holmes) maybe the first round, or the fourth round…I can’t remember. Yeah it was pretty controversial, that was something I definitely didn’t want it to end that way, but I guess with the rules of boxing that’s just the way it is.
MB: At the time the head butt occurred, did you realize a cut did develop over your eye?
BM: Well the initial impact I knew something was wrong and I looked down and a, just the type…the way I was butted I knew that I was going to be cut and I automatically seen the blood dripping down. It was like I tied him up and walked into the ropes, and you could actually see me turn to the referee, twice complaining that I got butted and he was shaking his head as you can see in the video. And his (Donnell Holmes) camp was trying to complain that it was from a punch, but if you watch the tape…ummm he hit me, I believe to the body, or he never really hit me with… I think his (Donnell Holmes) first claim was a right hand and then it became, or they changed it to become a left hook. I really don’t know where they’re coming from and I watched the tape many of times…not sure if you watched it but a… definitely its hard to see, you gotta kind of frame by frame it when we clash; and where I was complaining to the ref. It kind of took the announcers a little while to figure out I was bleeding. But until they figured it out, there was no punch landed by Donnell Holmes.
MB: Do you feel regardless of the outcome that it will affect your career?
BM: I don’t really think…I mean if it gets overturned to a no-contest I’ll be pretty upset. You know what, I think it will affect me because winning the NABO title will definitely could help me get another meaningful fight, because I have seven months to defend it before I get suspended for I think 45 days. Yeah I do believe it really could affect me but their (NABO) saying, I guess in the first meeting that they had their hearing that Donnell’s manager was threatening that Donnell has a loss on his record that he was going to sue.
I mean his activity level has been very poor, he (Donnell Holmes) has only fought; I mean he fights sporadically and hasn’t stepped up and fought anybody in the last couple years. I think it would be more detrimental to my career for this to be overturned, which in the rules of boxing they can’t call it a no-contest. If they’ve seen factual evidence of a punch and I lose by TKO…I’m taking a big risk. If I know it was a punch I should be happy with the no-contest, knowing that this could be overturned in his favor. But I’m so confident that it was a head butt and he didn’t punch me.
And the referee seen it, basically I think it’s kind of turned into a debacle with the whole way its turning out, and the way the commission just tried to please him (Donnell Holmes) and call it a no-contest because people start threatening to sue. If you don’t want someone to sue you, why would you call against somebody that can actually beat you in court? I don’t think he has any evidence (if he was to sue) that he hit me with a punch and cut me. I definitely have the evidence there. I’m pretty upset the way it all turned out, but I’m still the winner by technical decision.
They (Donnell Holmes camp) covered it up by saying it was a recommendation after they put it in the press and called me and sent me a letter. Things could still happen, you never know when you go in these meetings, but when the referee is there I believe he’s the guy in charge and it’s his call. It’s like having a witness to a murder standing three feet from it seeing in the trial; I mean definitely you’re not doing the right thing by convicting the murderer when you don’t have the witness there.
MB: I understand, to further get into depth in this; once again regardless of the outcome whether it’s ruled in your favor or Donnell Holmes favor, would you grant Donnell Holmes a rematch?
BM: If it’s ruled in his favor? Or my favor?
MB: Either way?
BM: You know what? I would, but who’s going to pay for it? I paid for this last event; you know it was my own expense, and risk. I paid for the sanctioning fees for the title (NABO), T.V wouldn’t buy him. We heard specifically from Showtime, that hey “We will not buy Donnell Holmes” because I believe he fought someone on an undercard. Gary Shaw has the Showtime date, and they didn’t like him. ESPN is pretty much committed to Oscar De La Hoya…they got all the dates; through I believe a beer sponsor “Tecate” for ESPN.
So, I don’t really see it possible that it’s gonna happen. It’s kind of crappy the way it happened, but it’s boxing. I’m sure if it happened the other way around he (Donnell) wouldn’t be saying “Oh I’ll give you a rematch.” Obviously in a business sense, you’re going to move on to bigger and better things. I don’t believe that a rematch is a smart thing for me to do it. I’m going to be 35, I’m looking to get my shot and keep advancing.
I was definitely was beating him every round. I don’t think he’s (Donnell) is that great of a fighter, I mean he’s (Donnell Holmes) pretty basic and methodical guy; wasn’t like he was overwhelmingly strong or fast or anything like that. I mean, I don’t see it being a smart decision for me to go backwards. I’ve already dealt and got the decision so, obviously after this hearing which I’m confident that it’s going to still stay in my favor; I’m going to move on to bigger and better things.
MB: Coming into your most recent fight you trained with Freddie Roach. What kind of Impact has he had on you?
BM: I think Freddie just sharpened me up and showed me a couple new punches; didn’t really try to change me. We just worked on angles a little bit. Which, before my old trainer did show angles, but didn’t explain it as good as Freddie. The conditioning program they have out there is the same as Pacquiao, Amir Kahn, and other fighters; it was a great experience. The sparring and the gym was probably by far the best sparring I’ve had for a fight yet. I usually have my way around here with the guys in the gym but when I went out there it was very competitive. It’s not really sparring; it’s more or less of a fight out there. It was definitely a great experience.
MB: So far in your career, who do you feel has been toughest opponent that you’ve faced?
BM: The toughest…the hardest fight I’d say probably Krasniqi. I think he was probably the toughest fight. I mean he was probably the more skilled guy, definitely hit the hardest than anybody I’ve fought. For his (Luan Krasniqi) size, he was very athletic and quick. A lot of people say, “Well you know, he can’t punch that hard,” but believe me that guy hits pretty hard. He (Luan Krasniqi) is a world class athlete…very fast. I just don’t know the last couple of fights he’s had, I know that it really doesn’t mean, I mean he got caught in the liver. He didn’t do too good against Tony Thompson, but from my perspective I think he’s the best fighter I’ve been in the ring with. As far as toughness, I’d say my first fight with Maddalone. He’s (Vinny Maddalone) probably the toughest guy I’ve been in with.
MB: Well Brian, thank you very much, and good luck to you in the future.
BM: Thanks Mike, take care.
