No risk, no reward.

Butler heavyweight Brian Minto is taking on that philosophy as he travels overseas to take on unbeaten Artur Szpilka of Poland June 15 in a 12-round bout.

Szpilka, 24, stands 6-foot-4 and is 14-0 with 11 knockouts as a professional. He’s had only one fight go longer than six rounds, that being a 10-round unanimous decision over Mike Mollo (20-3-1) earlier this year.

Mollo knocked Szpilka down with left hooks to the chin in the first and fourth rounds of that bout. A rematch is already scheduled for Aug. 16 at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago.

“That fight he had with Mollo was a classic and they already put together the rematch. That’s what they’re focused on getting ready for,” said Pat Nelson, Minto’s manager. “He’s not going to be completely focused on Brian and maybe we can take advantage of that.”

“He believes this will be a one or two-round fight,” Minto said of Szpilka. “He’sd not viewing me as a threat. It’s up to me to change that.”

Eight of Szpilka’s 14 opponents have not made it past the second round. For Minto, the risk is definitely there, but the reward is great.

This bout will either be for the WBO’s Intercontinental title or the WBC’s International belt. The victor receives a top 10 world ranking.

Minto (37-5, 24 KOs) is currently unranked as a heavyweight.

“This opportunity was too good to pass up,” Nelson said. “A win and Brian probably gets a world title shot.”

Minto hasn’t fought since his fourth-round TKO of Mike Sheppard last August in Chester, W.Va.

Szpilka is a southpaw and Minto hasn’t faced a left-handed opponent in nearly 10 years.

“I’ve been sparring with the Karpencys, getting my work in, and I’m in good shape,” Minto, 38, said. “I should be a solid 215 or 220 pounds for this fight.”

Jeremiah Karpency (8-0) and Tommy Karpency (21-4-1) are from Ada and are southpaw fighters.

Minto stands 5-11 and will be at a reach disadvantage against the slender Szpilka, who has been dropping weight.

“Our weight should be similar and I’m going to have to battle my way inside on him,” Minto admitted. “The key is to not take too many shots to get in there.

“He (Szpilka) is a tough kid who can take a punch. He’s been tested and I don’t think he’s too worried about me.”

While Szpilka has only fought 43 professional rounds to Minto’s 187, he’s been in the ring against stellar competition. Szpilka’s last four opponents are a combined 143-25-4.

“They’ve stepped him up pretty quick,” Nelson said.

Minto is leaving for Poland on June 8. This will be his fourth fight overseas and first since he retired after nine rounds of a world cruiserweight title fight against unbeaten champion Marco Huck in May of 2010.

Minto described Szpilka as “an aggressive fighter who likes to come straight ahead ... He’s a mover and a finesse boxer, too.”

Minto spent a few weeks in Poland just before Christmas, doing some sparring in the same gym as Szpilka. The two watched each other spar, but did not face each other.

“Really, I think that’s when this match originated,” Nelson said. “These two guys have seen each other and each believes he can win.”

Minto had surgery in January to repair a joint in his shoulder.

“The strength is back and it feels good,” Minto said of his shoulder. “Yeah, it aches and it’s sore after I spar or go hard, but all boxers feel sore somewhere all of the time.

“This is a rough sport.”