Brian Minto's opponent has changed. His goals have not.

The Butler professional heavyweight boxer (23-1, 14 KOs) returns to the ring Friday when he opposes Andy Sample (32-12-2, 22 KOs) in an eight-round bout at the Tropicana Casino in Atlantic City, N.J.

The fight is on the undercard of a pay-per-view show, but will not be televised.

"That doesn't bother me," Minto said. "There are three title fights on the card and those will comprise the telecast.

"There will still be a lot of boxing writers there. I'll still get a lot of exposure out of it. That's what I'm looking for."

Minto will turn 31 the night of the fight.

Sample, 29, 6-foot-4, 230 pounds, is from Topeka, Kan. He replaces Minto's original opponent, Byron Polley (18-5-1), who accepted another fight elsewhere.

Sample earned an eight-round decision over Polley in June 2004, but has dropped five of his six fights since then. None of the six fights lasted longer than three rounds.

"I'm ready for this fight," Minto said. "I took a week off after the (Troy) Weida fight, then went back to work."

Minto scored a third-round TKO of Weida Dec. 30 in Chester, W.Va. He has been sparring with unbeaten heavyweight Calvin Brock, who is ranked No. 3 in the world.

"I've been holding my own against him," Minto said. "I'm beginning to believe I can hold my own against anybody."

He might be able to test that theory before long. IBO light-heavyweight champion Antonio Tarver (24-3) plans to move up to the heavyweight division and might have interest in fighting Minto in his heavyweight debut.

Tarver's promoter also promotes Vinny Maddalone's fights. Minto has defeated Maddalone twice in his career.

Tarver's last fight was a unanimous decision over Roy Jones Jr. Oct. 1. A Tarver-Minto bout would serve as the main event on a HBO fight card in April.

Tarver's promoter has reportedly contacted Dino Duva, one of Minto's promoters. Duva did not return a phone call from the Eagle Friday.

"My understanding is Tarver wanted to fight (Mike) Tyson, but Tyson wasn't interested," Minto said. "Now he's looking for a guy with a good record who he figures he can beat."

Tarver is 37 years old.

"Hey, I'll fight the guy," Minto said. "He weighed 176 pounds when he fought Jones and he's trying to get up to 200. He'll be slower at that weight.

"I don't mind waiting three months for the right fight. I'll wait five or six months for the right fight."

If the Tarver fight does not develop, Minto might join Duva stablemate Samuel Peter on an HBO card down the road, though they likely won't face each other.

Regardless, Minto is eager to fight a name opponent and hopes to do so after the Sample bout.

"There's something like 30 HBO fight cards they're trying to fill this year," Minto said. "Something will pop up. I'm just biding my time, waiting to see what happens."