Fight preview & pick – Hall vs. Butler:
Tomorrow night Paul Butler steps up in class to challenge Stuart Hall for a bantamweight title strap. Hall is making the second defense of his title and will do so with pride in front of his own supporters.
Butler may not have competed with anyone on Hall’s level as yet, but his talents have been clearly recognized in the form of his being fast-tracked into this opportunity. Here both men are analyses ahead of what should be a quality all-English dust up.
Physical
Hall is tall and rangy for bantamweight, standing at 5 ft 8 and with a long reach. He will be the visibly bigger man in the ring, staring down at Butler. Despite his size and natural strength advantages, Hall is not particularly hard-hitting, and nor does he possess the kind of hand speed often expected of combatants in one of boxing’s smaller weight categories. Instead his strength lies in a well tested ability to grit his teeth through twelve hard rounds, as evidenced by his battling performance to outpoint Vusi Malinga in a fight voted our British fight of the year for 2013.
Butler is opposite to Hall in many ways, and not just in stature. His quick hands are an important part of what makes him so highly thought of amongst pundits here in the UK. He is akin to Hall in the stamina department, as he has shown no signs of weakness going the distance at a good pace, but his resilience is yet to be truly questioned by limited opposition within the squared circle thus far.
Mental
Hall is in a good place after almost two years without defeat, and can take comfort in the knowledge that his only losses came to Jamie McDonnell and the tricky Lee Haskins. He showed fortitude in coming through torturous swelling around the left eye to thwart Malinga. He will also be desperate to put up a good defense of the title after his first one against Martin Ward went wayward due to the challenger’s facial injuries early on, which led to the bout resulting in a technical draw.
Butler is enthusiastic about this title shot and is clearly a confident man. Such confidence is drawn from excellent showings at domestic level that have since been repeated against previously unheard of opponents from overseas.
Though the superlatives may have rained down on Butler for these televised outings the fact is he is yet to fight at Hall’s level as a professional. Only time will tell but listening to Butler speak suggests that any lack of experience will not perturb him ahead of this, his biggest test to date.
Technical
Hall is an upright boxer who likes to use his physical advantages to the fullest. He tends not to set the tempo and instead adapt to the beat of his opponent, though he generally appears more comfortable pushing his opponents back rather than boxing off the back foot. He has a solid jab and a stiff right hand though is not great on his feet and tends not to move his head.
Butler is a boxer-puncher who likes to pot-shot opponents as they come on to him. He can often be seen languishing on the ropes, where he will slip and weave under attacks before returning with rapid-fire combinations of his own. He is the flashier, as well as more technically gifted of the two, and his varied and precise punch-picking can be a joy to watch.
Hall vs. Butler Prediction
Hall’s best bet is to apply intelligent pressure, using his jab as a weapon as he seeks to close the distance. Butler will use his feet to get in and out of punching range whilst hoping to lure Hall on to counters. Hall may struggle to match Butler punch for punch, so he must play the long game and hope to gradually wilt the young challenger.
In just his second defense, Hall won’t give up his title without a fight, but ultimately this fight will come down to levels. That is not to dismiss Hall but rather to recognize that his opponent is of high quality.
Butler has great potential and victory for him this weekend could be followed by a move to an even higher plain. Expect Butler to survive relentless pressure from Hall to ultimately outclass him, and outpoint him, over twelve rounds.
