Ellesmere Port star Paul Butler will challenge IBF World Super-Flyweight Champion Zolani Tete on Saturday 25th October at the Liverpool Echo Arena (subject to IBF final approval).
Butler stepped up a division to bantamweight and beat IBF World Champion Stuart Hall on points in June to become the fastest ever Englishman to win a world title.
The 25-year-old goes back to his natural weight of super-flyweight to attempt two further records: to become the first British boxer since heavyweight great Bob Fitzsimmons in 1903 to win a second world title in a lighter division and the fastest ever English fighter to win a second world title.
Tete won’t be fazed by facing Butler in front of his thousands of loyal fans, the South African travelled to Japan in July and beat Teiru Kinoshita in his backyard and in the fight before he went to Mexico and beat home favourite Juan Carlos Sanchez Jr, stopping him in the tenth round.
Undefeated Butler says he’ll rise to the challenge and has the speed, footwork and power to take the title from Tete.
“I can’t wait to face Tete and take that world title from him,” Said Butler.
“He gets my full respect for being world champion and for coming to Liverpool to defend his title against me, but when he gets in that ring he will be in against a man who is totally focused and driven to win the world title,”
“Winning one world title is every boxers dream, to win a second world title would be just unbelievable and to do it in back-to-back fights makes it more special,”
“To become a two-time and two-weight world champion and to join other British champions like Duke McKenzie, David Haye, Ricky Hatton, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank in the history books is a massive motivator for me,”
“By beating Tete I will achieve another feat not done since Bob Fitzsimmons well over a hundred years ago and win a second world title in a lighter division which again would be an honour,”
“Breaking records is great, but my primary focus is beating Tete and becoming world champion. He’s a southpaw and a good, tough, world champion, but as I’ve shown against a bigger man like Hall, I need to use my hand speed and combinations, with my fast feet and mix it with the power that I’ve got,”
“It’s going to be a massive night in Liverpool and one to remember.”
Butler v Tete headlines “The Magnificent Seven Fight Again” that also features Liam Smith challenging for the Vacant IBF Intercontinental Light-Middleweight Championship; Derry Mathews faces Cristian Coria for the Vacant WBA Intercontinental Lightweight Championship; Oville McKenzie defends his British and Commonwealth Cruiserweight titles against Matty Askin; Kevin Satchell challenges European Flyweight Champion Valery Yanchy for his title, and Tom Stalker takes on Chris Jenkins in an Eliminator for the British Light-Welterweight Championship. A quality packed undercard features undefeated talent Chris Eubank Jnr, Jack Catterall, Steven Lewis, Michael Gomez Jnr, Matty Fagan, and the pro debuts of Michael Joynson and Mason Cartright.
Tickets priced at £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150 are available from the Liverpool Echo Arena Box Office on 0844 8000 400 or www.echoarena.com
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