Know no fear.

Perhaps that should be the theme of the heavyweight fight between Butler's Brian Minto and Akron's David Polk when they clash in the eight-round main event March 23 at the Days Inn in Butler.

Minto (18-1) doesn't fear Polk. Polk (9-2) doesn't fear Minto, either.

"I'm concerned about him - you have to be concerned about any opponent - but I'm not scared," Minto said. "I'm going to try to hurt him. I want to knock him out. That's the plan."

Others have tried to knock out the 27-year-old Polk and failed. He's won nine straight fights and only owns one knockout himself.

"We have no problem with Minto's record because David's only fought guys with winning records," said Aaron Phinnessee, Polk's manager.

Polk hasn't fought anybody with a record worse than 8-2. He lost his first pro fight by decision to a Canadian opponent who sported a 9-1 record with eight knockouts at the time.

Polk's second loss was to Danny Harvison - who Minto has been sparring with at a boxing camp in California, Pa.

"I know he's taller than me (about 6-foot-2) and weighs around 220, but I've never seen him fight," Minto said of Polk. "He only had one amateur fight, so I'm a lot more experienced."

Polk's lone amateur bout was a decision over Chris Koval of Youngstown, Ohio, who now sports a 20-2 professional record.

Polk already has knocked off two previously unbeaten fighters, winning decisions over Nicholas Popove (12-0) of Russia and Morgan Sendrowicz (10-0) of New Jersey.

"This is a serious fight, a really solid match-up," promoter Michael Acri said. "Boxing people are talking about this fight nationally. It's an interesting match because it features two guys at the crossroads."

Minto is looking at fighting again in Butler next month, assuming all goes well against Polk. Minto's handlers are negotiating a rematch with Vinnie Maddalone for sometime this summer.

Minto knocked out Maddalone on national television last July in Atlantic City.

Polk has a prospective fight against former world champion Riddick Bowe lined up, should he defeat Minto.

Both Polk and Minto are former collegiate linebackers - the former at the University of Akron, the latter at Slippery Rock - but their boxing styles are radically different.

"This fight will look like Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier," Phinnessee said. "David is a boxer like Ali. He uses the whole ring, moves around, comes at you from all angles.

"Minto is a straight-on fighter like Frazier. He has a good punch, but everyone David's faced has had a good punch, and they've been bigger, more powerful guys."

Minto admits his split-decision loss to former world champion Tony Tubbs "still has a sour taste in my mouth."

"It happened. There's nothing I can do about that now," he said. "But it's made me work harder."

Tickets are $50 for ringside, $35 for reserved and $20 for general admission and remain available at the Butler Days Inn.

Under-card bouts include Zack Page (4-2) vs. Dandrae McCole (4-10) in a six-round cruiserweight match, Jason Bouse (4-3) vs. Rashawn Daniels (1-3-1) and Jerome Boyer (0-1) vs. Darnell Smith (0-2) in 4-round heavyweight matches, and Chris Stallworth (4-1) vs. Roosevelt Johnson (2-1) in a 4-round cruiserweight match.

Acri said one or two matches will be added to the fight card, which begins at 8 p.m.