Byron Polley has plenty of respect for Brian Minto — but not for a lot of guys Minto's been in the ring with.

The 5-foot-11, 228-pound Polley (21-7, 10 knockouts) will face Butler's Minto (28-2, 17 KOs) in a 10-round bout for the WBAFedercentro heavyweight title Dec. 30 at Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Resort in Chester, W.Va.

"Brian's a quality fighter, no doubt, but I don't know about his opponents. ... I'm coming to fight, not take my money and lay down for him like a lot of guys he's fought," Polley said.

"Who's that last guy he fought?Ray Lunsford?I would have taken him out in the first round, too. Let's get serious here."

Minto's last fight was Aug. 23, a first-round TKO of Lunsford at Mountaineer.

Polley plans to be plenty serious with the Federcentro belt, the WBA's Central America title, on the line.

"This is opportunity for me,"he said. "I wouldn't be making this trip if I wasn't coming to win."

Polley, 28, has been working full time as a car salesman in St. Joseph, Mo., for eight years. He is married with three children.

"I work from 8 in the morning until 8 at night,"he said. "I get my running in at 5:30 a.m. every day, work out in the gym from 8 to 10:30 every night.

"I never stop training. I take a day here and there each week to spend time with my family. Besides that, I keep that schedule every day."

The WBAis putting up the Federcentro belt because that title is currently vacant.

Minto hopes to use that belt to gain a WBATop 15 ranking and a world title shot sometime next summer.

"The big thing for me is getting to 30-2, which means I will have won that belt and defended it sometime in late winter or early spring,"Minto said. "If that happens, something big could happen for me.

"Polley's a tough guy and he fights with heart. But he's going to come right at me and my punching power is stronger than ever. If I hit him flush, he's done ... If I can get him out of there early, I'm doing it.

"I won't play around. This fight means too much,"Minto added.

Pat Nelson, Minto's manager, said the WBAtries to fill its vacant belts with quality fighters to get more of them ranked.

"It allows fighters to use these title belts as a way to climb the ladder,"Nelson said. "Brian got himself ranked in the top 15 of the WBOby beating (Axel)Schulz. The same thing can happen here."

Polley has lost only twice in his most recent 11 fights. He knocked down former Olympian Rob Calloway (58-7) in the first round, only to get knocked out in the second.

Polley also fought Kevin McBride, who knocked out Mike Tyson two years ago, on even terms early before losing by TKO in the fourth round.

"He's been in the ring with stiff competition and held his own,"Nelson said.

"Nobody is going to intimidate me,"Polley said. "I have punching power myself. I have a few more knockouts than I've been given credit for. For some reason, I'm having a hard time getting them documented."

Polley's three opponents so far this year. Jerry Simpson, Vernon Woodward and Brian McIntyre. have a combined record of 18-40-2. Polley won two of those fights, with the Woodward match being declared a no contest after Polley was cut by a head-butt.

Minto expects Polley to be charged up for this fight.

"It's one of his bigger paydays, I'm sure," he said. "I don't take anybody lightly, and the guy's got a good record. But I'll be ready to go."

Polley has sparred with Billy Zumbrun, who lost by decision to Minto in a spirited eight-round bout in April 2006.

"Billy and I are good friends now,"Polley said. "He hurt Minto in that fight. He got to him, and I can get to him, too."

The fight card begins at 2 p.m. Dec. 30. Tickets are available at ticketmaster.com or by calling 866-448-7849.