By Jake Donovan
Two heavyweights, one undefeated yet untested and the other a huge regional draw, engage in combat this weekend. The winner will have gained his biggest win to date; the loser simply goes back to the drawing board.
Once upon a time, it was a no-brainer for such a fight to land a televised slot, even if as the opener to a Friday Night Fights telecast. Even by today’s lowered standards of the heavyweight division, a fight between two big boys with a combined record of 64-2-2 (48KO) should garner a modicum of attention, especially when one is guaranteed to sellout his hometown arena as has often been the case in his past several fights.
Instead, cult favorite Brian Minto and unbeaten Donnell Holmes are forced to wage war with out the benefit of national network coverage.
It may not sound like much in the grand scheme of things. After all, Minto remains for the moment a fringe contender, while Holmes is the perfect example an old boxing theory that undefeated records should be viewed with skepticism.
But it’s still a heavyweight fight that appears on paper to be competitive and entertaining.
Unfortunately, it comes during an era where most have given up on the heavyweight division. No longer is it just enough for a fun heavyweight fight to be offered in order to arouse the interest of network executives, not unless said fighters are heavily connected.
Holmes (31-0-2, 27KO) is no longer that. The North Carolina slugger once was, having fought at different portions of his career under the promotional banner of both Don King and Gary Shaw. Neither relationship lasted very long, at least not long enough to have him advance beyond the club circuit.
That Brian Minto is by far his toughest challenge to date suggests two things to those who view the glass half-empty: that Holmes’ level of competition is horrible, and that Minto’s camp must see something in Holmes that has yet to be revealed in the ring.
Whereas Holmes remains a mystery, what you see is what you get with Minto, although there also exists a hint of deception – and in a good way.
Based out of western Pennsylvania, the fleshy-yet-fun heavyweight has done his part to revive the boxing scene in his corner of the world. He’ll never make people forget about the likes of Hall of Fame fighters Harry Greb, Billy Conn, or Fritzie Zivic, but is still worthy of his current status as a club circuit favorite.
At first glance, Minto (33-2, 21KO), reeks of the typical Midwestern club fighter with the padded record who gets flattened the moment he steps up in competition.
Granted, losses to an ancient Tony Tubbs and fellow fringe contender Luan Krasniqi are hardly cause for celebration, but in neither fight did he offer a poor showing. The fight with Krasniqi remained relatively close throughout, before suffering a final-round knockdown to ultimately put the fight out of reach.
That knockdown aside, Minto doesn’t spend nearly as much time on the canvas as your garden variety Midwestern club fighter. In fact, there’s actual evidence of his being able to fight more than just a little bit.
The heavyweight has graced a few ESPN2 boxing telecasts in the past, none more memorable than his July ‘04 last-round bailout knockout of Vinny Maddalone. Minto was dropped early in the fight and considerably down on the cards before a single left hook in the opening seconds of the 10th and final round ended Maddalone’s evening.
Their rematch 15 months later was nowhere nearly as competitive. Minto dominated the action from jump before left hooking Maddalone into oblivion in the seventh round of the chief support to Antonio Tarver’s rubber match win over Roy Jones.
The repeat win over Maddalone came in the midst of a nine-fight win streak that was snapped with the 2007 points loss to Krasniqi. The bout served as the second of two consecutive fights in Germany, a rare stretch outside of the Western Pennsylvania region, where he has since won six straight.
Of the six, the lone televised coverage he enjoyed came last July on one of the final episodes of the now-defunct ESPN2 Wednesday Night Fights series. He didn’t stick around for very long, icing John Poore in the opening round on the strength of three knockdowns in front of a sold-out crowd in the very same Pullman Park arena that hosts tonight’s fight with Holmes.
It will be Minto’s third straight fight off camera, although the show will be available online via live webcast (Friday, NESportsTV.com, 9PM ET). Those who are willing to part with their $10 will also see a new face in Minto’s corner.
Well, a familiar face in boxing – two-time Trainer of the Year Freddie Roach.
Minto made the change after a rare performance that failed to entertain, an eight-round decision over Matt Greer in his most recent fight this past April. The distance bout snapped a five-fight knockout streak, though he still did more than enough to avoid the loss column.
What he hasn’t been able to do is remain above the fray in today’s dwindling television market. It may change with a win tonight; or it may remain status quo, with the view that it’s just another win over just another mediocre heavyweight.
It will take a lot to dissuade his regional fan base from lending their undying support to his career. Unfortunately, it will take even more to convince the networks that Brian Minto deserves better than his present status as a cult favorite.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of Boxingscene.com and an award-winning member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Contact Jake at JakeNDaBox@gmail.com.