Butler Loses IBF Super-Flyweight Title Bid

Last night at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, Paul Butler failed in his attempt to win a world title at a second weight.

Having won the IBF bantamweight title against Stuart Hall last year, Butler relinquished it almost immediately to drop down to his natural weight of super-flyweight.

In Liverpool, last night, Butler was bidding to become the first British fighter in over a century to win a world title at a second weight, but by dropping down a division to super-flyweight.

But it was a plan that came unstuck as the current IBF champion, the South African Zolani Tete, was a class above Butler.

Tete, before the fight, had threatened to break Butler?s nose and knock him out and the fight was a one-sided affair with Tete piling up a points lead before unleashing a devastating uppercut, in round eight, to knock Butler out.

After the fight Butler was very complimentary about the champion, remarking,

‘I normally have people come towards me. He’s a very big kid, and we knew his power by his record. He’s a great champion.

‘He was very good and very awkward, a better man on the night.?

Tete now moves on to defend his title again with a record that now reads 20-3 with 17 wins coming by way of knockout whilst Butler suffered his first defeat in 18 contests.