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Butler: I’ll knock Jamie Conlan out inside 6 rounds

Fight fans are salivating at the prospect of a super-flyweight shootout between Belfast’s Jamie Conlan and Ellesmere Port’s Paul Butler, but the latter tells them to expect a one-sided massacre.

‘I don’t rate Conlan at all. I just don’t understand all the hype. Seriously, it’s an easy fight for me. It’ll be over within six rounds,’ says the 27 year old ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ who held the IBF World Bantamweight title in 2014.

‘Jamie forgets that I properly spanked him as an amateur at the (July) 2007 Commonwealth Federation Championships in Liverpool. I was boxing at 48 kilos at the time but stepped up to 51 at just two days notice and thrashed him 29-12. I remember he was pretty weak. It wasn’t even a race!

‘To be honest, I requested the Conlan fight for my comeback after losing my world title challenge to (Zolani) Tete. But they now want us both to go head-to-head in Dublin next February to build up a big (WBO) world title eliminator for around May. I’d happily fight him now.

‘Money will dictate the venue but, believe me, if I had a choice, I’d love to go to Belfast and walk to the ring first with all his crowd booing me as a wait for him. Hopefully the media will build up the England-Ireland thing a bit, just like Frampton v Quigg. I love a bit of grit!’

‘The rivalry that is building up between me and Conlan are spicing things up for us, adding digits to our cheques,’ acknowledges Butler, a 2010 ABA champion who has triumphed in 19 of 20 pro starts with 10 stoppage wins.

But before Butler can contemplate resurfacing on the world stage, the vicious ‘Arnie’ Farnell coached box-fighter knows he must shine when he resumes duty on the blockbuster ‘Xmas Cracker’ bill at Manchester Arena on 19th December, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

And it’s no formality. Rumbling out of the opposite corner comes Madrid based Romanian Silvio Olteanu, a well seasoned, well travelled ex two-time European champion and world title challenger down at flyweight.

‘This has to be Frank’s best card of 2015 and there’s sure to be a great crowd. I’ve requested that I’m on nice and early so that I can enjoy the world title fights from ringside after delivering a spectacular display myself,’ says Butler.

‘I’ve never been a huge one for studying opponents on tape. I’ll just watch a couple of minutes tops then turn it off.

‘All I know is that Olteanu’s a former European champion who gave (Daiki) Kameda a close fight for the WBA flyweight title over in Japan. He’s definitely a big step up from the last two opponents I fought so I’ll be bang up for it. I’ve already started sparring.

‘Olteanu’s fought in very good company yet he’s never been stopped in almost 11 years as a pro. But he’s a career flyweight and he’s getting on a bit now. I’ll definitely be looking to get him out of there early, pick up another title and get myself right back into the mix with all the major sanctioning bodies.’

Frank Warren’s end of year title extravaganza ‘X-Mas Cracker’ is headlined by two massive world title showdowns with WBO World Middleweight Champion Andy Lee defending his title against Billy Joe Saunders and WBO World Super-Welterweight Champion Liam Smith making his first title defence against Jimmy Kelly. A staggering SIX further titles are on the line with Mitchell Smith defending his WBO Intercontinental Super-Featherweight title against George Jupp; Paul Butler challenges for the Vacant WBO European Super-Flyweight Championship against Silvio Olteanu; Tommy Langford defends his WBO Intercontinental Middleweight Championship; Commonwealth Super-Welterweight Champion Liam Williams and Kris Carlow clash with the Vacant British title also on the line; Jack Catterall defends his WBO Intercontinental Super-Lightweight Championship, and Adrian Gonzalezdefends his WBO Intercontinental Lightweight Championship. Plus the undercard features Merseyside favourite Derry Mathews and Indian superstar Vijender Singh.

Tickets are priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £200 and £300 are available from www.frankwarren.com

*Tickets are subject to a booking fee.

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise the show live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415. Subscribe HERE Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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