IVANHOE, N.C. — Brian Minto has 21 professional knockouts to his credit, but Donnell Holmes doesn't envision his own eyes closing Friday night.

In fact, he plans to open plenty of eyes.

Holmes (31-0-2, 27 KOs), 36, faces Minto (33-2, 21 KOs) for the WBO North American heavyweight title in the 12-round main event of a pro boxing card at 8 p.m. at Pullman Park.

"It's showtime now," Holmes said. "It's time to do my thing."

His thing is taking care of business in the ring. And he expects this fight to be no different.

"(Minto's) eyes are gonna be open. The world's eyes are gonna be open," Holmes declared. "I'm a humble guy, but I'm for real as a fighter.

"Nobody knows about me yet because nobody's given me a chance. Thanks to Brian, now I've got an open door and I'm walking through. I give him credit. He stepped up to the plate when nobody else would."

Holmes doesn't disrespect Minto. In fact, he agrees that the Butler product is a world-class fighter.

"I'm sure he's not taking me for granted," Holmes said. "31-0 in any sport is good, I don't care if it's peewee baseball. I don't go into any fight looking for a knockout. They come because I know how to fight, how to take advantage of an opening.

"If the fight fans there are real fans and not fair-weather fans, they're in for a great fight. They don't even know who I am, but I thank them for their support and making this fight happen. That support for their guy has given me an opportunity."

Holmes said he stayed quiet for weeks, not wanting Minto's camp to think he was "anything but a stereotypical North Carolina fighter."

"I wanted them to think that ... Brian and that Freddie Cockroach (real name Roach)," Holmes said. "Now they're going to find out different.

"North Carolina isn't known as a boxing state. Our gyms aren't considered anything, we can't find sparring partners. ... Two fighters who take the sport seriously in our state probably live four hours apart.

"Brian's probably thinking, 'I'm in L.A., sparring against the best, while Holmes is stuck in North Carolina, not training properly.' I've been reading and hearing a lot of stuff. ... That's fine with me," Holmes added.

Holmes works full time for a living, "just like every other fighter in North Carolina. But I put boxing first. My work schedule is flexible enough that I can do that."

Holmes works as a truck driver, hauling sand and stone. He works by day, trains by night, usually not getting home until 10 p.m.

"It's no sacrifice to me because I love doing both things: driving a truck and boxing," he said. "I've wanted to be a trucker since I was a little kid watching "B.J. and the Bear."

Since earning a split eight-round decision against Billy Zumbrun in October 2007, Holmes has won his last three fights by second-round TKOs. None was a stellar opponent: Benito Fernandez (19-15), Curtis Taylor (13-20-1) and Ryan Thompson (9-7).

Holmes also put together a 73-13 amateur record before turning pro.

"No one takes good amateur records seriously because a lot of great amateurs don't do anything in the pros," he said. "I've never gone 12 rounds in a fight because I haven't had to. But I can."

Holmes admitted to hoping Minto drew a title shot against WBO champion Wladimir Klitschko when the latter had a scheduled opponent drop out of a recent bout.

"Yeah, I was pulling for Brian to get Klitschko because Brian's earned a shot," he said. "The guy has guts. He'll fight anybody anywhere. I'm thankful he's that way.

"He may have made a mistake, though, leaving his trainer (Tommy Yankello) the way he did to go work with Freddie Cockroach. ... I have fun with his name, but I love Freddie Roach. He's been successful with Manny Pacquiao because the two have chemistry together.

"Going with a new guy and planning to use stuff you've only been working on for six weeks? That's a mistake, especially against me," Holmes added.

Holmes kept his amateur trainer, Sherriedale Morgan, when he turned pro and worked with him until Morgan, now 76, developed Alzheimer's disease. Now, Holmes is trained by Anthony Bradley, an assistant coach with the 2004 U.S. Olympic team and a Morgan disciple.

"I worked with Buddy McGirt for a while, but we didn't have the chemistry," Holmes said. "I named my son (Morgan) after Sherriedale. That's how tight I was with that man."