Is Brian Minto a Top-Tier American Heavyweight?

Yesterday’s ESPN2 fight card originated from an unlikely place: Butler, Pennsylvania, a town of 15,000 located 40 miles north of Pittsburgh. It’s the hometown of heavyweight contender Brian Minto. Minto, 33, played football for the Butler High Golden Tornados and must have competed there with one-time NFL player Scott Milanovich.

Minto predictably dismantled Philadelphia-native John Poore dropping him three times in the first round. There is a full video of the fight below. But is Minto a viable heavyweight candidate? Was ESPN’s graphic correct; is he really the fifth best American heavyweight?

This was ESPN’s list:
1. Tony Thompson 31-1-0 (19) - boxrec.com U.S. Rank: 1
2. Chris Arreola 24-0-0 (21) - boxrec.com U.S. Rank: 8
3. Kevin Johnson 19-0-1 (6) - boxrec.com U.S. Rank: 9
4. Jason Estrada 13-1-0 (3) - boxrec.com U.S. Rank: 13
5. Brian Minto 31-2-0 (20) - boxrec.com U.S. Rank: 14

Who were Teddy and Joe forgetting? Well, ESPN’s Dan Rafael has John Ruiz and Hasim Rahman ranked #6 and #9 in his overall rankings; they’d be his #1 and #2 U.S. heavys. The other names in between - Eddie Chambers, Monte Barrett, Lamon Brewster, Calvin Brock, Demetrice King, Travis Walker, Chazz Witherspoon - have all fought better competition than Minto. But none have any fight fan clamoring towards the ticket booth.

Right now Minto doesn’t belong in the Top 5. He needs to start fighting the above names to prove himself. Then and only then can he be considered a Top 5 American Heavyweight.