Boxing: Minto heading to Super 8

Brian Minto's last trip to New Zealand ended in defeat against Joseph Parker. Photo / Getty

Veteran American boxer Brian Minto has been confirmed as the marquee attraction for next month's cruiserweight Super 8 tournament and he is coming to Christchurch with a point to prove.

Minto beat Shane Cameron via TKO at the Fight for Life in Auckland in December, 2013 before he returned to New Zealand last July where he was forced to retire on his stool after seven rounds against exciting Kiwi prospect Joseph Parker.

Both of those fights were at heavyweight but Minto will drop down a weight class for the Super 8 tournament where eight boxers will meet each other in quarter-finals over three three-minute rounds before a winner emerges.

When Minto fought Parker he went in to the bout with a broken nose, while his father - who has since passed away - was on his deathbed.

"My mind wasn't right," Minto said. "Taking nothing away from Joseph, he's a great athlete, great prospect; but I didn't want to be in there that night. So for me, I've got something to prove."

Aside from Minto, three other fighters have been added to the mix in Samoan Falani Tavu'i, Fijian Joseph Kwadjo and Kiwi Asher Derbyshire. Those four will join the previously confirmed names in Monty Filimaea, Daniel Ammann, Lance Bryant and kickboxer Israel Adesanya to complete the eight-man tournament.

The 40-year-old Minto, who has moved up and down between heavyweight and cruiserweight (90.7kg) throughout his career, said he didn't see much in the field that worried him.

"I just don't think there's any guy on my level," he said.

Minto (39-8) challenged Germany's Marco Huck (38-2-1) for the WBO world cruiserweight title in 2010 but lost via TKO. Minto has also competed in a similar three-round knockout tournament, as a heavyweight, in England in 2013.

The rest of the Super 8 card, that will be staged at the Horncastle Arena on March 28, includes a 10-round cruiserweight bout between Kiwi-trained Samoan Vaitele Soi (24-1) and Australian Anthony McCracken (17-7-1).

Cricketer Jesse Ryder will also meet blogger Cameron Slater in a celebrity fight, while former English cricketer Adam Hollioake has challenged ex-league player Monty Betham and both parties are keen to make the bout happen.