By Hanne Davis

American boxer Brian Minto regrets how his fight with New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker played out, and if he had the chance, he'd take up the opportunity to get in a ring with Parker again.

It's been over seven months since Minto lost his WBO oriental heavyweight title to Parker in Auckland, and he said that looking back he should have withdrawn from the card when he broke his nose sparring the week before instead of "taking the money" and going ahead with the fight.

"You know it was a tough night but like I told everybody. Taking the choice that I made to go through with the fight and sometimes life we learn from our mistakes, and I definitely learned a big lesson that night."

"In some sort of way felt like I sold out myself you know for the money rather than having that ranking. The bout and the win, you know it wasn't me that night so I felt like I kind of gave it away.

"I'm not taking anything away from Joseph Parker he's a great fighter, good athlete but you know deep down in my mind I think that you know, if I was 100 percent it probably would have been a different fight."

The American - who will fight in Christchurch at the Super Eight event on March 28 - said if it came up he'd be interested in a rematch with Parker, but didn't think he'd be offered the chance to take on the for a second time despite saying it might be "fair" to give him that opportunity.

Minto said Parker is "exceptionally fast with good skills" but questioned his decision to go and spar with Wladimir Klitschko. He said that the current world champion heavyweight boxer has a reputation for putting his sparring partners through the wringer.

"It's great to see where he's at an have a measuring stick, but I'm not sure it's a good idea because Wladimir knocks all of his sparring partners down and out because he's a very vicious guy.

"I'm just being opinionated here, I'm giving my opinion. I don't think it's right or wrong but if I was his handlers I'd probably shy away because Klitschko's going to be long gone by the time Joseph Parker fights for a world title."

The American who called New Zealand "his second home" is looking forward to taking the ring in Christchurch and fighting at what he believes is a more comfortable weight a the top end of the cruiserweight class and said he is fully focused on making the most of being one of the bigger, stronger fighters in the ring on March 28.