Exclusive Interview by James Slater – 34-year-old Brian “The Beast” Minto, 34-2(21) will fight the biggest fight of his pro career on December 5th in Atlantic City, N.J, as he will square off with fellow tough guy Chris Arreola. Fighting in an important heavyweight bout that could propel the winner into a world title shot, the #5 ranked WBO contender knows how hard the fight will be.
28-year-old Arreola, 27-1(24) is coming back after a brave loss to WBC heavyweight king Vitali Klitschko, while Minto, a warrior who has never been stopped, is hungry for his first crack at a world title.
Very kindly taking time out to speak with me over the phone from the offices of his manager Pat Nelson earlier today, Minto gave the following answers to my questions:
James Slater: It’s great to speak with you, Brian. I know you have this big fight coming up. Your fight with Chris Arreola is obviously a big opportunity for you, you feel you have the style to beat him – what with your speed and your tenacity?
Brian Minto: Right. I will have to use my quickness, I’m sure he’ll come out fast, trying to take me out the first couple of rounds. I know I’ll have to be careful early. I have to make sure my defence is tight, and I have to make him miss. Make him miss and make him pay..
J.S: Did you see Arreola-Vitali Klitschko, and were you impressed?
B.M: Yeah, I saw it. I was impressed with his toughness. Not too many guys could take a shellacking like that and keep on fighting. He was never gonna quit in there. But as for his game-plan, I don’t think he could really adjust in there when he knew what he was trying wasn’t working. But I think he did a decent job. I mean, they’re [the Klitschkos] monsters, they’re tall and athletic, and it’s an uphill job for anybody against them. I was actually rooting for him when I watched the fight. I think Chris has a similar style and approach to me – in that both of us always give our all and we give the fans what they want to see; and not a boring chess match type of thing.
J.S: You are both very exciting fighters, and you can both punch hard. Do you see yourself out-working Arreola and perhaps winning a decision? Or do you think you could stop him if you crack him right?
B.M: I can’t make that prediction. This is heavyweight boxing and anything can happen. I could crack him, sure – but he could do the same to me. I know what I need to do in the fight, and that’s not be on the outside of his punches, and not stand right on front of him. A couple of guys he’s fought did that and got taken out real early. This is a risky fight for me, no doubt. It’s the riskiest fight I could have taken in my whole career, definitely.
J.S: Is Arreola a guy you’ve kind of had your eye on for a while now, is he someone you always felt you’d fight one day?
B.M: Yeah, I always felt that it could happen. Boxing’s a goofy sport you know? You never know when you’ll have to be ready for an opportunity like this. I haven’t had too much notice, but I’m always in the gym, I live clean and I keep in shape. These type of opportunities only come around once or twice in a lifetime. Now I’m just keeping sharp, sparring and working hard.
J.S: Can I ask you who you’ve been sparring with?
B.M: A few guys. I have a young kid, he’s 3-0, and he’s 6’4″ and around 270. He’s the biggest guy I’ve got working with me. I’ve also been working with Chris Koval and Nicolai Firtha. But Arreola has an effective style, it’s not technical but it’s effective – the way he throws the right hand, and there aren’t too many guys you can use to get ready for him.
J.S: Just going back to your last fight, your 4-round TD win over Donnell Holmes in August. I read you were unhappy with the way the fight ended (due to a cut caused by a butt suffered by Minto). Were you unhappy with your performance?
B.M: I feel I was fighting a good fight. He was a tough guy, but I was getting to him. He was a little slower than I thought he’d be. I was disgusted with the way it ended, but this is boxing, it happens. It wasn’t a punch [that caused the cut], but they [Team-Holmes] tried to make out that it was. I had to go to court to stop then from changing the result to a No-decision. I want to erase that whole fight, I don’t like thinking about it. And this fight will do that for me. It left a bad taste in my mouth.
J.S: Did Holmes ever hurt you?
B.M: No, not at all. The cut was caused by a butt, and the ref saw that. You can see it on tape if you watch it frame-by-frame. Like I say, I want to move on from that fight.
J.S: Well, if you beat Arreola you’ll totally make people forget about it! You’ll be on a whole different level.
B.M: Yeah.
J.S: People are expecting a great action fight. Do you even think your fight could be the fight of the night, maybe even a candidate for heavyweight fight of the year?
B.M: Yes, I think so. I believe that can definitely happen. Also, I’m impressed he’s back so soon – I mean that fight [Vs. Vitali] was only a short time ago. We’ll have to see how seriously he’s taking me though.
J.S: This is a big fight, and it’s possible the winner will get a world title shot. If that’s the case, which of the current champions would you like to challenge?
B.M: That’s a bridge I’ll have to cross at that time. But I guess any of them. David Haye is a very hard puncher, but he’s only 6’3,” so from that standpoint, with him not being as tall as the 6’7″ Klitschkos, Haye would be a smarter fight for me. But I’d fight any of ’em.
J.S: Are you impressed with Haye? Did you see his win over Valuev? Is he the real deal?
B.M: I think he is. He’s a very talented guy. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone hurt Valuev the way he did in the last round. He’s quick, he punches hard and he has a lot of ability.
J.S: Are you still working with Freddie Roach? Will you be for this fight on December 5th?
B.M: No, he’s working Amir Khan’s corner that same night in England.
J.S: But will you work with Freddie again in the future perhaps?
B.M: I’d like to in the future. I’m back with my old trainer right now, but yeah, I’d like to work with Freddie again.
J.S: It’s been great speaking with you, Brian. I wish you best of luck for the big fight. Finally, you have fought twice in Atlantic City, NJ, and you won both times. That must be a good omen for you, right?
B.M: Yeah, I guess so. Actually, the first fight in Atlantic City (Vs. Vinnie Maddalone – W KO 10, July 2004), that was by far the roughest fight of my career. I was beat up but I came back to knock him out in the last round. I don’t really look forward to going back to the hospital after this fight, but I’m sure it’s gonna be rough. It’s going to be a real battle!