Frank Warren’s card tonight at the Echo Arena was headlined by Paul Butler’s challenge for the IBF Super Flyweight title against Zolani Tete. Butler backers went home unhappily, as Tete retained his title with an 8th round stoppage win.
PAUL BUTLER LTKO8 (1:34) ZOLANI TETE
Ellesmere Port’s Paul Butler suffered a shock eighth round stoppage to IBF World Super-Flyweight Champion Zolani Tete. Butler couldn’t get inside Tete’s long reach and accurate jabs and crosses to land his own shots and never got into the fight despite trying hard to force the fight. The tricky South African southpaw, who won his last two fights abroad and making the first defence of the title, landed a perfect left uppercut on Butler’s chin that dropped Butler for the count, and despite rising before ten, the referee waved it off. Butler said afterwards: “I’m really gutted right now. It’s my first professional loss and it’s a hard one to take. Tete is a very good champion, he’s very awkward and he picked his shots well. I’ll rest, regroup and comeback.”
KEVIN SATCHELL WKO1 (2:54) WALTER ROJAS
British, Commonwealth and European Flyweight Champion Kevin Satchell made quick work of Walter Rojas in this ten-round contest, despatching the Argentinian inside a round with a brutal left to the body.
JACK CATTERALL WTKO5 (1:03) CESAR DAVID INALEV
Red hot Jack Catterall stops Cesar David Inalev in the fifth round to add the Vacant WBO Intercontinental Light-Welterweight title to the WBO European crown he acquired last time out. The Chorley hitman was on top form with an excellent ram-rod right jab mixed with hard straight lefts and punishing body shots that hurt the tough Argentine. The referee saw enough in the fifth round after another hard left and right hook hurt Inalev. Catterall, the fast-rising star of British boxing, takes his record to 11-0 with 6 KO’s, his third back-to-back stoppage win. Afterwards he said, “I felt great in there, he was a tough foreign opponent and I busted him up from the jab. I’m learning all the time and I can’t wait until I’m out again. I love winning belts and the WBO Intercontinental title is a great addition, but the one I want is the world title, that’s my dream.”
DERRY MATHEWS WKO5 (1:02) GYORGY MEZEI JNR.
With his WBA World Lightweight Title shot against Champion Richar Abril set for Saturday 18th April at the Echo Arena, Derry Mathews was looking to do a demolition job on Gyorgy Mezei and he did it with a fifth round KO of the Hungarian when he landed a hard right that Mezei couldn’t get up from. Mathews said, “I knew what was at stake when I took this fight against Mezei after Abril pulled out and I had to get the KO win. I did that tonight and now I’m ready for Abril next month. I’m fighting one of the best in the division in my hometown in front of my home fans. If that doesn’t get me motivated to win the world title, nothing will. I can’t wait for it next month, it’s going to be massive in the city.”
TOM STALKER WPTS6 (60-55) MICHAEL MOONEY
Liverpool’s Tom Stalker made a winning return after his stoppage loss to Jack Catterall last October with a points win over Worcester’s Michael Mooney.
JAZZA DICKENS WPTS12 (115-112, 115-112, 116-110) JOSH WALE
Liverpool’s Jazza Dickens claims the Vacant British title second time around with a gruelling unanimous decision over rival Josh Wale. Despite being deducted a point in the 5th and 12th rounds, Dickens’ better work rate over the Barnsley man saw him win on the judges scorecards 115-112, 115-112 and 116-110.
LIAM SMITH WTKO8 (2:01) ROBERT TALEREK
World rated Liam Smith takes his record to 20 unbeaten with an eighth round stoppage of Robert Talarek. Smith ground down his tough Polish opponent with hard jabs and body shots until the doctor ringside decided that he’d had enough. Smith said, “He was a hard kid, but I slowly took him apart. I’m looking at pushing onto the world scene now, I’m definitely on the fringes and will start proving myself this year.”
STEPHEN LEWIS WKO2 (2:31) KEVIN HANKS
Undefeated prospect Stephen Lewis opens the show with a second round stoppage of Stoke-on-Trent’s Kevin Hanks.
