Minto moving back to heavyweight

By Bob Caico

Professional boxing returns to the Turning Stone Resort and Casino in Verona, NY on Saturday night. The main event will be a NABF heavyweight title eliminator when Brian Minto (35-4, 22 KOs) of Pennsylvania goes against Connecticut’s Tony Grano (18-2-1). The main preliminary will be an eight-round heavyweight contest between Eric Fields (19-1, 15 KOs) of Oklahoma and Derrick Brown (13-6-3, 11 KOs) of Utica, NY.

Minto who was an exciting if not undersized heavyweight dropped down to cruiserweight a couple years ago when he lost to Marco Huck for the WBO title. After stopping Pierre Karam in another cruiserweight bout 15 months ago “The Beast” is returning to the heavyweight ranks. “In the last year I worked out and put on some more muscle, I started at this weight class and this division will keep me busier than the cruiserweight division,” said Minto.

Minto will turn 37 years old the day before the fight and while the result will determine his future he is confident he will come out on top. “Grano is younger than me and not as much ring experience as me, if I can’t beat a Grano then I might as well hang it up. I had a great camp and I feel great, I feel 27 not 37 years old,” explained Minto.

The winner of the main event will be next in line to box NABF Champion, Johnathon Banks (25-1-1, 17 KO). “At my age and where I am now if I don’t get meaningful fights and title fights, it’s not worth it.”

Doors at the Turning Stone Resort Casino Event Center open at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, January 28. The bell rings for the first bout at 7:30 p.m.

$60, $45, and $35 tickets are now available at the Turning Stone box office or by calling 877-833-SHOW.

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January 26th, 2012

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