Fighting over the holidays is no problem for Brian Minto.

In fact, the Butler heavyweight boxer will be in the ring Dec. 30 at The Mountaineer Race Track and Gaming Resort in Chester, W. Va. — on that exact date — for the fourth time in five years.

But the previous three bouts — against Toby Vaughn in 2003, Tony Tubbs in 2004 and Trey Weida in 2005 — pale in significance compared to this year.

Minto (28-2, 17 KOs) takes on Byron Polley (27-7-1, 10 KOs) in a 10-round co-main event for the World Boxing Association's Federcentro title at The Harv. The fight card begins at 2 p.m.

"I've got nothing to lose, he has everything to lose,"Polley said. "The only people there pulling for me will be myself, my dad and my corner man.

"That atmosphere's not going to bother me. I'm going in there relaxed, to give it all I have. I've got everything to gain.

"I know this fight means everything to Brian, but I'm coming to get mine, too. I'm coming to fight. All of the pressure's on him," Polley added.

Minto agrees with the theory, but is unfazed by Polley's bravado.

"He moves straight forward and throws big hooks,"Minto said. "In the first round, he's going to throw some bombs, but I'm not worried. I'm prepared for him. I'll throw some jabs at him and as soon as I hit him, he's gone.

"It's nothing against him. He's a game fighter, a tough guy, but he's not real technical. He's more of a slugger. My skill level and punching power — I'm happy where I'm at."

Minto has been working with Steve Hildebrand, a longtime friend and an experienced strength coach, on strength and conditioning for the past eight months.

Minto hasn't fought since scoring a first-round TKOover Ray Lunsford on Aug. 23 at Mountaineer.

"I'm not Ray Lunsford,"Polley said. "He will see. Everybody there will see."

Polley, 28, of St. Joseph, Mo. works from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. five days a week selling cars. He trains in the gym for two hours a night and gets his running in at 5:30 a.m. each day.

He is also married and is the father of three.

"My kids come to the gym with me,"Polley said. "My 9-year-old pounds the bag and my 5-year-old jumps rope. It all works out.

"I make a lot of money working. I don't need to fight. I do it because I love to do it. And I take a lot of pride in it."

If Polley wins, he said he'll take advantage of the title belt.

"I've got a trainer working on getting me matches all the time,"Polley said. "Hey, I'm only 28. I have a lot of up-side."

Polley was in the ring against the likes of Kevin McBride (33-4-1) and Rob Calloway (58-7-1) as recently as last year, losing in the fourth and second rounds, respectively. He lost by TKOin the fourth round against then-unbeaten Owen Beck (21-0) in 2004.

Polley is 2-0-1 against his last three opponents, who sport a combined won-loss record of 18-40-2.

"I doubt Minto hits as hard as Beck or McBride, but we're gonna find out," Polley said. "If he knocks me out cold in the first or second round, I'll get up, shake his hand, and watch him go on to win the world heavyweight title.

"Do I think I'm going down in the first two rounds?No."

Minto has been sparring against two fighters on this Sunday's under-card — Butler's Jim Emrick (2-1, 2 KOs) and Pittsburgh's Carlton Johnson (15-4-2, 10 KOs) — while preparing for Polley.

"Finding good sparring partners is tough, but those guys have been great,"Minto said. "They've pushed me. They've made me work hard."

The fighters have approximately the same height. Polley estimates his weight at 238 while Minto will fight at about 220.

Minto doesn't under-estimmate Polley. He just wishes his opponent come Sunday was a bigger name.

"He's credible, but I feel like I'm ready for world-class,"Minto said. "Believe me, I won't be looking past this fight. Anybody over 200 pounds, if they catch you the right way, can put your lights out.

"I never forget that. It keeps me focused in the ring."

Polley hopes his experience edge will help him pull off the upset at Mountaineer.

"Brian didn't start fighting until he was 27. I've been a boxer since I was 12."he said. "That's not to discredit him. Some guys are gifted enough to start late and make a quick impact. He looks like one of those guys."

Also on the card is a 12-round bout for the vacant USBAlightweight title between Verquan "The Show" Kimbrough (18-1-1, 7 KOs) of Aliquippa and Oisin "Gaelic Force"Fagan (20-4, 12 KOs) of Oklahoma City, Okla.

Rounding out the card:

n Jim Emrick (2-1, 2 KOs) of Butler vs. Corey Gregory (5-14, 3 KOs) of Cleveland, Ohio, 4-round heavyweight.

• Chad Van Sickle (21-7-3, 12 KOs) of Columbus, Ohio, vs. Carlton Johnson (15-4-2, 10 KOs) of Pittsburgh, heavyweight.

• Steve Perry (0-1) of Youngstown, Ohio, vs. Khristian Geraci (0-2) of Pittsburgh, 4-round welterweight.

• John Lipscomb (3-12) of Cleveland, Ohio, vs. Eric Burke (14-6-1, 4 KOs) of Columbus, Ohio, 4-round welterweight.

• Chris Stallworth (18-1, 3 KOs) of Pittsburgh vs. Dan Whetsel (9-12-1, 5 KOs) of Toledo, Ohio, 6-round heavyweight.

Tickets for the show are $100, $60, $40 and $25 and are available by calling 866-448-7849.

""I've sold plenty of tickets,"Minto said. "There are going to be a lot of people from Butler down there."