The record speaks for itself. Donnell Holmes hopes the styles speak louder.

Holmes (31-0-2, 27 knockouts) is coming to Pullman Park to face Butler's Brian Minto (33-2, 21 KOs) for the interim WBO NABO heavyweight boxing title in a 12-round main event Aug. 14.

Of Holmes' 31 victories, only 12 have come against opponents with winning records. He does own impressive wins over Stacy Frazier (14-3, for the WBC Continental Americas title) and Don Steele (45-5).

"But I've never been on the big stage," Holmes admitted. "I've been the main event on smaller shows mostly.

"When I have fought on bigger cards, I was the first or second fight in, when there were 20 or 30 people in the stands and they were still setting up the ring."

That doesn't mean Holmes, of Ivanhoe, N.C., can't fight. He was 73-13 as an amateur and lost the Golden Gloves national title fight in a close decision to B.J. Flores in 1997.

"I've been calling people out for two years now — mainly Chris Arreola. He's the one I really want," Holmes said. "I'm grateful to Brian for giving me this opportunity. He's ranked ahead of me and he's giving me the chance to catch up to him."

Holmes and Calvin Brock — a sparring partner of Minto's — have fought many of the same opponents over the years.

"Guys who I beat easily, Calvin had trouble with. Guys he beat easily, I had trouble with," Holmes said. "Brian Minto has clearly been in bigger fights than me, but sometimes I think it's how styles match up that determine the winner."

Rick Lazes, Holmes' promoter for 15 years, predicts Holmes will knock out Minto in the eighth round.

"That's how I see it," Lazes said. "Both of these guys are power punchers, only Brian comes straight ahead and Donnell is a more skilled boxer. He'll use the corners and move around a lot more.

"Brian's a top-level fighter. Believe me, we respect him and his abilities. But this is Donnell's shot, right here, right now, and he's in the best shape of his career."

Minto shrugged off Lazes' prediction of an eighth-round stoppage.

"We'll see how (Holmes) reacts when I hit him with my power punches," Minto said. "I'm hearing he's not that great of a defensive fighter."

While Minto is strictly a professional boxer, Holmes drives a truck for a living, delivering sand and stone to concrete companies.

He leaves at 5 a.m. every weekday, gets off work at 4 p.m., trains in the gym until 7 and gets home at 8:30. Holmes has maintained such a schedule since 1996.

"It's not a sacrifice to me because I'm doing something I want to do," Holmes said. "I live a clean life. I don't go out partying. I go to church and believe in the Lord."

This bout will also be for Minto's WBA Fedecentro title. Because it's a WBO NABO title fight, the WBO will select the judges.

"We know we're going to get a fair shake from the judges and that's all we ask," Lazes said. "Where the fight's being held doesn't matter as long as it's one-on-one."

Minto isn't so sure.

"(Holmes) is going to walk into a storm of Butler fans," Minto said. "People will be booing him and I'll be at my best, I promise you that. I can handle this atmosphere. I've been there. He hasn't.

"This is his shot. I know that and I'm not taking that lightly. That's one of the reasons I'm leaving town. I'm not going to be bothered with promotional stuff or lining up tickets. I'm going to be working and concentrating solely on my boxing," he added.

Minto is flying to Los Angeles Monday to work with new trainer Freddy Roach. He is not returning to Butler until Aug. 9, five days before the fight.

"This is the biggest fight of my career so far," Minto admitted. "A loss could set me back again — but not in my backyard."

The undercard of the Aug. 14 main event will feature six pro fights, including Butler's Jim Emrick (7-3-1) in a six-rounder, and Paul Zalus (1-0) of Kittanning in a four-rounder.

Tickets are $25 for general admission, $35 for reserved and $50 for ringside. Tickets are available at the Pullman Park box office or by calling 724-287-6797.