Hunter world boxing champion Blake Minto back in the ring

Minto, who claimed the World Boxing Foundation super lightweight title in a points decision against Argentinian Sergio Gonzales on March 24, is part of a top-class field at Demolition 12 at Wests City Newcastle.

The fight will be Minto’s only one before a mandatory defence of his title in October.

The exciting night of boxing includes Cessnock professional Troy O’Meley who is fighting for the NSW state title and teenage sensation Zack Fitzpatrick, who turns 14 earlier in the month and will have his first fight in NSW.

Minto and Fitzpatrick after both trained by Cessnock’s boxing coach Ben Crampton and fitness and conditioning coach Brendan Hlad.

Another fighter from the Crampton camp, light heavyweight Joel Griffiths is also fighting on the card.

Minto said it would be good to get back into the ring after his world title victory, which he described as the toughest fight of his career.

The 25-year-old from Toronto said it had taken him a week  to fully recover from the 12-rounder against Gonzales.

“It was a tough fight, the last three rounds I really felt fatigued. I think we were both pretty fatigued at the end,” Minto said.

“We both kept on coming in and grappling, punching on the inside pretty much.

“It has given me a great deal of confidence. Completing the 12 rounds was in the back of my mind, to complete them and get the win pretty convincingly I was pretty happy with it. 

“It took me a good week to recover. I was having ice baths and hot baths. I was mixing it up going for swims and that but your body needs some rest after that just some down time.”

Minto said July’s non-title fight was basically to keep him fit between now and his defence later in the year.

“Still waiting to hear who the defence fight will be against, but I’m going to be ready,” he said.

“I’ve been focussing a lot on defence in training, just to relax when I’m on the inside and then we’ll up the boxing about six weeks out from the world title fight.”

Crampton said it was exciting to have Fitzpatrick and Griffiths on the card.

“Zacky is fighting Brody Halliwell in a rematch of the interstate title Zach won in Queensland. Both boys are national champions and it was such a great fight up there that we decided to do it again down here,” he said.

Joel Griffiths the other professional that I manage is on again as well. He  won his first professional fight in March and a lot of people are talking about him. 

“He was a very good amateur and will be a very good professional. In his first fight he fought a guy who had 91 pro fights and Joel knocked him out in the first round.”