And the pride of Ellesmere Port had expected to become the first Brit for a century to drop a weight and collect a second world crown this Saturday by scalping IBF super-fly boss Zolani Tete at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.
BoxNation subscribers can catch the history maker doing his thing – alongside a host of other quality Merseyside talents such as British light-middle king Liam Smith, Derry Mathews, Kevin Satchell and Thomas Stalker – by tuning into BoxNation, the Channel of Champions from 7pm this Saturday on Sky Ch.437(HD490)/Virgin Ch.546/TalkTalk Ch.525.
Boxing writer Glynn Evans found the 25 year old Butler in defiant mood when he caught up with him last Saturday afternoon.
Given you’ve had four months to reflect, how do you assess your world title winning performance?
The game plan went perfectly except for roads eight to ten where I ‘switched off’ and lost my way a little. A concentration thing. And even those rounds that I conceded, Stuey only won marginally. I had my moments in those rounds too.
Before the fight, I said stuff about knocking Stuey out to try to put certain doubts into him. Mind games, and I think they worked! I definitely got into his head at the weigh-in. He didn’t like me fronting up to him and getting into his face, before all his Geordie fans. He was riled and I left that little exchange with a smile on my face.
But we always knew it was likely to go the full 12 rounds and that I’d win the fight with a flying start because I was younger, fresher, quicker, more skilled. All my gym work, all my strength and conditioning circuits, were fashioned to me making an explosive start, finishing strongly, then staying with him through the mid rounds which is pretty much how it panned out.
What was your initial reaction when the MC declared that it was a ‘split decision’?
I was very shocked and, fighting up in Hall’s native north-east, I did fear the worst. I certainly felt I deserved the verdict. I couldn’t see any case that could be made for Stuey winning the six rounds that he needed to retain his title.
If he’d won the last two rounds as well, the fight would really have been up for grabs but I showed what I’m about by finishing strongly.
What do you feel you proved to the boxing community with your performance in Newcastle last June?
That I’m capable of handling pressure in big fights. A lot was made of Stuey fighting on home turf and how that might sway things his way a bit. But I took that many supporters with me from Ellesmere Port that I felt like I was the home fighter, the defending champion.
Stuey, as champion, entered the ring after me but didn’t get half the reception I received. I doubt he sold 150 tickets. I personally paid for the coaches to bring 550 of my mob to Newcastle and I also funded the after fight party.
I also showed that, though I’m a natural super-fly, I’m more than capable of physically handling bantamweights. And Stuey is absolutely massive for the weight. He’d look physically impressive for a super-bantam and, at the pressers beforehand; he was keen to point out that he was really a super-bantam fighting a super-fly.
To be honest, I think he really struggles to make 118. He still looked very drained and uncomfortable at the IBF check weigh-in at nine o’clock the following morning when you can’t weigh more than 10lbs above the bantamweight limit.
Though Stuey doesn’t punch especially hard, he was really strong. A few times he pushed me to the ropes but, once I bent my knees, I was able to handle him in close. I felt I proved my chin against a big bantam who’d dropped Vusi Malinga, remember. But I knew from our previous sparring together that he’d not be able to hurt me.
Finally, I proved I could stay the pace in a 12 round world championship against a champion renowned for their high work rate. And it was me who was dictating. Especially early on, Stuey seemed frightened to throw because he was struggling with my distance and head movement.
It was a fabulous fight. Could it happen again down the line?
Stuey can have his rematch any day he wants. He didn’t have to give me a shot at his world title and I’m very grateful that he did. I respect him loads for that.
If he manages to beat Randy Caballero for the (IBF) belt I vacated, in Monte Carlo this Saturday, I’ll happily leave super-flyweight and take his title again, as a one off return to bantamweight.
Given our ages, there’s only one of us who can improve massively from our first fight and it’s not him. I doubt I’d stop him because he’s a very, very tough kid but I’d beat him on points again by a far wider margin.
How do you think Stuey will fare against Caballero this weekend?
I’ve not seen a huge amount of Caballero, just a few clips. But he’s not boxed great opposition so far and we’ve heard whispers from a few contacts that he has stamina issues.
On paper the bookies are making Caballero favourite (7-2 on) but Stuey’s shown against both Malinga and myself that he can really dig deep and, if he can take Caballero down the stretch, I believe he could take the American out. Hall’s not a huge puncher but he’s got a relentless work ethic.
I certainly hope he wins. We’ve communicated on Twitter, wishing each other well for our fights. I did ask him to come for a drink with me the night that I took his title but, understandably, he declined the offer!
Pressure from the IBF to commit your future meant that your tenure as champion was frustratingly brief. Did you get to enjoy the trappings of being world champion?
Not really. I got the same reaction as winning my other titles really and I only held the belt for four weeks. I had a huge party with my family to celebrate but there were no keys to the town!
I’m sure the decision to concede the IBF belt wasn’t taken lightly. What were the persuading factors?
I’ve always been a natural super-fly, never a bantam. But the night Stuey beat Malinga last December, Francis (Warren) enquired how I felt about stepping up to bantam to challenge Hall. I strongly fancied my chances but it was always the intention to come straight back down.
The decision to vacate was made jointly by my team. I made it clear that I didn’t want to give the belt up to be fighting eliminators or Inter-Continental title fights. I’d only surrender it for a straight world title shot down at super-fly. Frank and the IBF organised that by getting me (super-fly world champ Zolani) Tete.
BoxNation subscribers saw how crestfallen you were when you got wind that the fight had fallen out of bed whilst doing a televised interview with Steve Lillis…
Mate I was devastated. It was so depressing. When I got home, I couldn’t speak to my girlfriend. I just moped on the couch, pissed off that all my hard training and, particularly, dieting had been for nothing.
However, last Friday I had a great spar with (ex interim WBO lightweight king) Michael Katsidis and that really brought me up, helped get the bit between my teeth again.
What’s the situation regarding a possible challenge to Tete?
As far as I know it’s still going to happen, probably around late February when his hand has had time to heal fully.
Tete’s a really good fighter. His tapes are on constantly on the screen at ‘Arnie’s’ gym and I’m sick of watching him. He’s a really classy operator who was fighting at world level before I even turned pro. If you stand off him, like most top southpaws he can establish a rhythm that’s very hard to break and he can really mix his shots up.
But we noticed he hates it up close so the plan was to pile the pressure on. Fans would’ve seen a different Paul Butler if I got to challenge him. I’d have steamed forward, put him on his toes.
What are your other options?
As soon as I heard he was out, I pleaded with Frank to take me to Japan and arrange a fight with (Kohei) Kono, the WBA champion. He’s already lost eight times and, at 33, he’s there for the taking. I’d happily travel to take his title.
I’ve not seen much of the WBC champion (Mexico’s Carlos Cuadras) but he’s got a great record (30-0-1, with 24 stoppages).
There’s no chance I’d go to Argentina to box the WBO champion Omar Narvaez. He’s profited from a few close decisions at home recently. But I’d happily box him anywhere other than Argentina. The only time he travelled, he got shutout by Nonito Donaire in New York. If I’d beaten Tete, the plan was to break the bank and bring Narvaez to the UK for a unification match.
Clearly it must have been difficult to sustain motivation for Saturday’s ‘mark time’ ten round international contest. What have you been able to find out about opponent Ismael Garnica from Mexico? What would represent a perfect night’s work?
The last fortnight has been an absolute nightmare but, at this crucial stage of my career, I just have to get up for it. The Tete thing is behind me now and I have to look forward. I’m still only 25, still young and fresh. It isn’t as if I was drinking in the Last Chance Saloon. There’ll definitely be future chances.
As regards the opponent, I didn’t even know his name until you just mentioned it. That’s how interested I am in him. His record says he’s been stopped twice and I plan making it three times on Saturday night. He’s nowhere near world level and I’m going to brutally dismantle him to prove that I was more than ready for Tete.
I craze that buzz again of hearing those words ‘…and the new……’ and walking around as world champion. Knowing my world title status is simply on hold, is what has got me through this.
