Ellesmere Port star Paul Butler makes his highly-anticipated ring return when he fights over ten rounds against an opponent to be confirmed on the Motorpoint Arena Cardiff show on Saturday October 22nd.
Butler, 21-1 12 KO’s, recently teamed up with Ring Magazine Trainer of the Year Joe Gallagher at Gallagher’s Gym in Bolton alongside Queensberry Promotions stable mate Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith. The naturally gifted Butler is confident he can win another world title at Bantamweight and is patiently waiting in the wings for his next opportunity.
“I’m really looking forward to working alongside Joe,” said Butler. “We’ve already been working on a few little things in the gym that will improve me. He’s a great professional and has watched all of my previous fights to pinpoint areas in which I can improve.
“Just being around the lads in the gym and seeing the big fights that they’re involved in is good to be around and it gives you a real push. I’ve known most of the guys in the gym since I was an amateur. Working alongside them and watching them train is good, you pick up new things such as different shot selections every day.”
‘The Baby-Faced Assassin’ was last in the ring in March when he stopped Mexico’s Sebastain Sanchez in nine to pick up the vacant WBO International Super-Flyweight title. Now the former IBF World Bantamweight Champion is looking forward to stepping out under the bright lights again.
“It has been a frustrating few months for me but that’s boxing for you. I’m buzzing to get back out and I can’t wait to get back in there and put a show on and push on towards another world title at bantamweight. I believe all of the Bantamweight world title holders are there for the beating; especially Haskins.
“I’m just eager to get out there, get a win and push on for another world title. I’d box for a world title on the 22nd October if I was given the opportunity. I don’t get ring rust or anything like that. I believe I’ll have one or two fights and then I’ll be back in there for a world title fight.”
Top of the bill sees Welsh hero Liam Williams make the second defence of his British Super-Welterweight belt against undefeated mandatory London challenger Ahmet Patterson in another potential fight of the year contender.
Stalker Ready for Rubbermatch
Liverpool Lightweight ace Tom Stalker says he is unfazed by facing long-term rival Craig Evans in Wales. ‘The Captain’ locks horns with Welshman Evans on the same October 22nd show.
Stalker, 11-1-3 2 KO’s, finally got his hands on the WBO European Lightweight crown after impressively outpointing Portugal’s Antonio Joao Bento at the Liverpool Echo Arena back in June. Prior to his win over Bento, Stalker had frustratingly drawn twice against Blackwood bruiser Evans.
Now the former Great Britain Olympic boxing team captain is looking to put an end to their rivalry once and for all.
“I’m taking the fight because I feel like I have come on a lot from our previous two fights and I want to put our rivalry to bed,” said Stalker. “I don’t even mind fighting him in Wales, he’ll have the crowd behind him but all of the pressure will be off me.
“I’ve boxed in a lot of intimidating atmospheres so fighting him in his back yard doesn’t faze me at all. I won a Commonwealth gold medal out in Delhi with 8,000 Indians screaming at me. I rise to the occasion and I would rather have it that way.”
Some felt Stalker was robbed of winning the Vacant WBO European strap after drawing with Evans at the Manchester Arena back in October. One judge scored the fight 97-93 in Stalker’s favour, while the other two scored the contest 94-96 and 95-95 respectively. The bout itself was an absolute war and Stalker is predicting another cracker for fight fans.
“I’m 100% focused on the fight and training has been going brilliantly. We have been in the gym for seven weeks already and I’m confident of going in there and getting the job done. I hope Craig is coming to fight me. I think he is going to try and outbox me and nick the rounds but that’s not happening!
“I’m coming to Wales to win and I’m going to win in better fashion than I did in the first fight. The outcome of the fight depends on what Craig wants to do. I think he is going to try and use his jab and edge me on points. If he wants to do that then I’m going to outbox him, if he wants to come and fight then I’ll meet him in the middle of the ring.”
November 25th Card at Brentwood Centre
Brentwood Boxer Joe Mullender has secured home advantage for a second crack at the English title after agreeing a rematch with Romford nemesis Lee Markham, who defeated him for the same title at the O2 Arena in May.
Local attraction Mullender has also secured home advantage at the Brentwood Centre where the two will square off again on Friday 25th November with BoxNation televising the action live.
Mullender and Markham boxed ten exhilarating rounds with the judges favouring the Romford man on points, leaving Mullender and his legions of Brentwood fans feeling disgruntled at a decision which many felt was weighted too in favour of the more aggressive Markham. The winner of this match will surely be considered as the next challenger for the British title recently vacated by Chris Eubank Jnr.
The show is being promoted by WAM Boxing, a new promotional company headed up by Brentwood based Promoter Andy Ayling who also manages English Champion Markham. WAM Boxing is a partnership between Ayling and his partners Francis Warren and Jason McClory who have been in the business and have all worked together for many years alongside Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren. It is Warren’s TV Channel BoxNation who will show the fight and the undercard live and exclusive.
Ayling said: ”It’s a natural rematch as it was such a cracking fight last time but afterwards many local people were complaining that TV hadn’t shown the entire fight and those who went were unhappy about having to travel to London for what is essentially a local derby anyway. For me Lee won the fight comfortably, but I always felt a rematch would be an attraction and I had a degree of sympathy for Joe Mullender with him being a Brentwood man. My wife and a few of my friends know Joe so I got my ear bent a bit, so with us both being former Headley Walter boys I thought ‘ok let’s do it’ and let’s do it in Brentwood and launch WAM Boxing at the same time.”
The rest of the Brentwood fight card is stacked with local talent including the exciting Boy Jones Jnr from Chingford who has his first title challenge when he faces Martin Hillman of Kent for the Vacant Southern Arena Super-Featherweight title. Boy Jones Jnr is undefeated in 10 fights since turning professional at just 18 years without any amateur experience and is tipped for big things. The naturally talented Chingford man is trained by Essex trainers Dominic Negus and Lennie Butcher who hail from the same Harold Hill Gym as Lee Markham.
Another special attraction that will no doubt whet the appetite of local fans is the professional debut of Hornchurch’s 19 year-old Harley Benn, son of the iconic ‘Dark Destroyer’ Nigel Benn who won World titles at Middleweight and Super-Middleweight in the 90’s. Harley will make his professional bow 25 years after his father defeated Lenzie Morgan at the Brentwood Centre back in 1991.
Other local prospects such as Chadwell Heath’s unbeaten Ben Hall and South Ockendon prospect Charlie Driscoll also appear on the show alongside the ever popular Chelmsford Super-Middleweight Billy ‘The Bomb’ Long, who between them will ensure the Brentwood Centre will be packed to the rafters for what promises to be a memorable night for Essex fight fans.
Matchroom Boxing extend StubHub partnership
Matchroom Boxing and the IBF World Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua MBE have both agreed to extend their long-standing partnerships with the world’s largest ticket marketplace, StubHub.
Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua will continue to transparently list face value tickets on StubHub. StubHub will also serve as the Official Ticket Marketplace for all Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua fights. StubHub will continue to have a broad range of branding, digital, social and activation rights, including access to Anthony for promotional video content, building on the success of the No Hype video released in November 2015.
For the first time, Matchroom Fight Pass members will be able to purchase face value tickets directly through StubHub during a pre-sale window ahead of each bout covering Matchroom’s stable of boxers including the undefeated Joshua.
Nick Harford, Head of Business Development & Partnerships at StubHub International said: “This is an exciting time for British boxing and we are delighted to extend our partnerships with both Matchroom Boxing and Anthony Joshua Anthony’s progress has been extraordinary and his undefeated record remains after an impressive performance against Dominic Breazeale. We are looking forward to further developing our successful partnerships with Anthony and his team, alongside our partners at Matchroom Boxing.”
Eddie Hearn, Group Managing Director, Matchroom Sport said: “I am delighted that we have agreed to extend our long-term partnership, which allows StubHub to provide fans with a safe and secure platform to buy face-value tickets for our events. In addition, StubHub have taken over hosting the Matchroom Fight Pass presale ticketing which will make the process smoother for our loyal members, who can now pick their seats via an interactive seat-mapping tool.”
IBF Heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua said: “I am very pleased to be renewing my partnership with StubHub. We have developed a very strong relationship from an early stage in my professional career and I thank them for the continued support. It is key for me to be able to give my fans a safe and reliable platform to purchase face value tickets to my fights.”
StubHub’s UK partnerships include: The O2, The SSE Wembley Arena, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Global Radio Summertime Ball and Jingle Bell Ball.
