Paul Butler (19-1/10 KOs) will face former European champion Silviu Olteanu (15-8/6 KOs) on Saturday 19th December at the Manchester Arena in a crucial must-win fight as he lines up a world title shot next year.
Former alphabet world titlist Butler features on a Frank Warren show headlined by the crunch fight between alphabet middleweight titlist Andy Lee and Billy Joe Saunders, and Liam Smith’s first alphabet light middleweight title defence.
Butler is focused on winning a second title in a lighter weight division even though he came up short in his attempt against Zolani Tete in March when he was stopped in eight rounds.
Since then, he’s come back with a win over Gustavo Molina in five rounds in July and then defeated Hector Rolando Gusman last month with one devastating left to the body in the first round.
A potential blockbuster against Irish rival Jamie Conlan could happen next year and Butler aims to dispatch Olteanu to remain on track.
“This is my first title fight since the Tete fight and I’m desperate to get a belt around my waist again”said Butler.
“I’ve proved that the Tete fight wouldn’t dent my confidence and I believe I’ve improved and come back stronger from it as you’ve seen in my last two fights.
“Now I’m in facing a tougher test against a good former European Champion in Olteanu who will make me raise my game and maybe give me a harder test. He’s never been stopped and I’m looking to be the first.
“He can bring what he likes to the ring, I’m focussed on what I’ve got to do and that’s to destroy him and get him out of the way so I can move on in my career and get that second world title.
“That could lead to Conlan next year which is a belter of a fight that I’m confident I’d win, but right now I’m dealing with Olteanu and getting the important win.”
