David Polk knows the name of the guy he's fighting.

He doesn't know much else about him. And he doesn't care.

"I've never looked at any film on anybody," Polk said. "I just step into the ring and do my thing. This is just another day in the gym for me."

That approach has worked so far.

Polk, 27, of Akron, Ohio, will take a nine-match winning streak into his eight-round heavyweight fight against Butler's Brian Minto (18-1, 11 KOs) next Wednesday at the Butler Days Inn.

The pro boxing card begins at 8 p.m.

Facing a once-beaten fighter in his hometown doesn't faze Polk (9-2) in the slightest.

"This has happened before," he said. "I fought Brian Marshall, one of Larry Holmes' boys, in his hometown (Allentown, Pa.) and won by TKO. He got a bad cut above his eye."

Holmes is a former world heavyweight champion who enjoyed one of the longest uninterrupted title reigns in heavyweight boxing history.

"I was supposed to get beaten by Maurice Willard in his hometown (Philadelphia) and I won that fight easily. If you win convincingly, no one can take it away from you. And that's what I've been doing," Polk added.

A win over Minto and Polk could face another former world champion - Riddick Bowe - in Salt Lake City, Utah, later this year.

"I guess a loss would mess that up," Polk said. "But I don't tend to think that way."

Both of Polk's losses are by decisions. He lost a split decision in his pro debut to Gilbert Balteiro (9-2-1) of Canada, then dropped a decision to Dan Harvison in his second fight.

Harvison (11-0) of McKeesport, now a cruiserweight, has been sparring with Minto at a boxing camp in California, Pa.

Polk stands 6-feet-2, weighs 225 pounds and has yet to win a fight by knockout. The Marshall fight - his fourth pro win - is his only victory by technical knockout.

Polk's last fight was an eight-round decision over Cerrone Fox (7-3) in early December.

"I do what I do and that's step in the ring and box," Polk said. "I have God-given talent. I was blessed with good feet and I've used them."

Aaron Phinnessee, Polk's manager, describes his fighter's style as "hit … and don't get hit."

Before turning to boxing, Polk was a first-team all-state running back at General McLane High School in Erie. He rushed for 1,600 yards his senior year and accepted a full scholarship to the University of Akron.

During his freshman year in college, he suffered a knee injury and returned to start two years at strong safety for the Zips.

He was a tailback for Akron before getting hurt.

"I had a few 60 and 70-yard rushing games before the injury," Polk recalled. "Our offensive line wasn't all that great."

Akron won the Mid-American Conference East championship during Polk's senior year. He's tinkered with boxing since he was 8 years old, but didn't get serious about it until his junior year in college.

Polk fought just one amateur bout - winning a decision over Chuck Koval (now 22-1 as a pro) of Youngstown - before turning pro three years ago.

"My skills were developed enough to turn pro," he said. "You can't eat trophies. If I was going to mess around with boxing, I was going to make some money at it.

"I'll go into the ring (next) Wednesday and execute my game-plan, just like I always do. I'm looking forward to it."