Hunter boxer Blake Minto has claimed his fifth professional title, stopping Jon Minn in the second round with a TKO victory to win the vacant NSW super lightweight title at East Cessnock Bowling Club on Saturday.
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Minto was in scintillating form dominating the fight from the opening bell and giving the referee no choice but to stop the bout midway through the second round with Minto pinning Minn against the ropes with a flurry of punches.
The two fighters met two years ago, with Minto winning but trainer Ben Crampton said the improvement in his fighter had been incredible over the two years.
It was Minto's first fight since winning the IBO Asia Pacific Super lightweight title against Gearoid Clancy in July and he will now weigh up whether his next bout will be an IBO title defence or a shot at the Australian super lightweight title.
"We'll have to sit down and look at which way we decide to go, but I couldn't be happier with Blake's performance he did everything I asked of him and when the chance was there to finish early he pressed home his advantage," Crampton said.
Minto said his performance was set up by a good training camp.
"Benny just kept saying 'just keep your jabs going, just box nice and show him you are a seasoned pro and if you get the opportunity to take him out, take him out'," Minto said.
"We executed the game plan excellently, it all just fell into place.
"The training with Ben and the fitness with Brendan (Hlad) has just come together so well."
Minto adds the NSW title to his WBF Australasian champion, WBF international champion, WBF world champion and IBO Australasia title.
He said his next fight was likely to be scheduled for February and would be either the Australian title or an IBO title defence in New Zealand.
"We'll keep training towards the end of the year and into the new year," he said.
Tristan Maskell, who trains out of Minto's Team Machine Boxing Club in Toronto, claimed the NSW amateur cruiserweight title in a split-points decision over Steel City Boxing club's Jack Clements.
The closely fought contest could have gone either way with the Toronto fighter getting the nod over his Newcastle rival.
Minto said the fight was an important challenge for Maskell who will look to go professional in the next year or so.
"It was a really good fight and I think Tristan will really benefit from that challenge," he said.
