BUTLER HEADING TO THE TOP SAY WARREN

Paul Butler’s promoter Frank Warren says the Ellesmere Port sensation will become the next big star of British boxing following in the footsteps of Ricky Hatton and Naseem Hamed.

Butler, the British and Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Champion, returns to action onSaturday 15th June at Wembley Arena where he aims to win his third title when he challenges for the Vacant WBO International title, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).

The 24-year-old won the Commonwealth title last month against Yaqub Kareem with a punch-perfect performance to stop the tough Nigerian who hadn’t been stopped in nearly seven years.

Hall of Fame promoter Warren took flamboyant showman Hamed to become the biggest name in world boxing in the 1990s and then all-action Hatton from an amateur to global sensation in the 2000s.

He sees the same characteristics in the unbeaten 24-year-old who has excited fans and media with his thrilling, big-hitting, style and believes he can become Britain’s first ever world champion in the 115lb super-flyweight division.

“I’ve been really impressed with Paul and especially in his last few fights where he’s stopped his last three opponents winning the British and Commonwealth titles by knockout,” Said Warren.

“Paul has got the choir-boy look about him, but when he gets in the ring it’s like a switch has been flicked and he becomes a vicious puncher and wants to hurt his opponents, just like Hamed and Hatton in their day,”

“He’s only had ten fights and by far the best in Britain right now.  I’m confident in his skill and talent that he could win a world title now, but he’s still learning and there’s plenty more to come from him.”

“I took Hamed and Hatton to the top and there is no reason why Butler can hit the same heights.  I believe that he can become a big, big, star in the sport.”

Butler, who’s opponent will be confirmed shortly, features on an action-packed card alongside Dereck Chisora plus two further cracking all-British showdowns: Frankie Gavin and Denton Vassell for the British and Commonwealth Welterweights titles and the rematch between Paul Smith and Tony Dodson for the Vacant British Super-Middleweight title.

Heading up the undercard is fast-rising unbeaten super-middleweight Frank Buglionifrom Enfield who’s KO’d six out of eight opponents; plus unbeaten light-heavyweight and 2010 Commonwealth Games Champion Calum Johnson from Boston; Southern Area Welterweight Champion Bradley Skeete; Former Southern Area Light-Middleweight Champion Steve O’Meara; Wembley Light-Welterweight Gary Corcoran; Harrow Weald Super-Featherweight Mitchell Smith; Canning Town lightweight Billy Morgan; Chingford’s unbeaten Tom Baker and Bowers Gifford John Dignum clash over four rounds at middleweight; plus Islington super-featherweight Joey Taylor.

Tickets, priced at £40, £50, £70, £100 and £150 are available now from Eventim on0844 249 1000 or www.eventim.co.uk and Wembley Arena on 0844 815 0815 orwww.wembleyarena.co.uk