Auckland's Fight For Life opponents were in Dunedin on Sunday, and the importance of a career-defining fight was paramount in their minds.
Cameron (36), who has been out of the ring since November last year, said he was looking to make that IBO cruiserweight world title loss to Danny Green a distant memory.
He was unconcerned about any ring rust because he had been doing plenty of training, and was at peak fitness.
''I will be fighting at about 100kg for just the second time in my career,'' Cameron said.
''Most of the time I have fought at 102kg-106kg thinking heavier is better, which is not the case.''
Cameron, who has 29 wins from 32 fights, including 22 knockouts, said beating Minto was ''crucial'' to his career.
He was taking one fight at a time, and while he was sure a showdown with New Zealand heavyweight champion Joseph Parker would happen, right now Parker would not get Cameron to his goal of becoming a world champion.
While Cameron had no concerns with ring rust, Minto had different ideas.
''I have been there and I can tell you, once you get the 10 ounces [283g] on and get under the lights it affects you, and mentally it can eat you up,'' Minto said.
''Sparring is nothing like the real thing and the more active you are, the better off you are.''
Minto, a 38-year-old from Butler, Pennsylvania, has had a busy two years with three wins from six fights, and has won 38 of his 45 fights, including 21 by knockout.
He fought in a heavyweight prize-fighting tournament last month in England, where he was beaten in the semifinals.
He then teamed with Parker's trainer, Kevin Barry, who had shown him a few things ''that made sense''.
Minto said he was using the 12-round fight to help get him back in the rankings, and securing the vacant WBO Oriental heavyweight title was a good place to start.
''I don't see Shane backing up, and I don't back up, but I will be calculated with what I do,'' Minto said.
Minto described himself as a ''blue collar worker'' before he turned professional in 2002. He had an unsuccessful WBO cruiserweight world title shot in 2010, and his most notable win came against Alex Schulz in 2006, when Schulz was in line for a world title shot.
As part of the fight promotion, Cameron and Minto are travelling together, but in separate cars, when not flying.
Cameron said it was ''a bit weird'' to be so close to his opponent. Minto said it was ''rather odd, but it's the fight game, where you have to expect the unexpected''.
Barry said if Minto won, he would get a fight on Parker's undercard next year. A win there would lead to a crack at Parker in June or July.
All the pressure would be on Cameron, because his camp picked Minto after realising he could not cut the weight needed for another cruiserweight fight, Barry said.
