Paul Butler, Jamie Cox Handed WBO Final Eliminators

By Elliot Foster

Paul Butler and Jamie Cox both have a big year ahead of them.

The pair, who campaign in the super flyweight and super middleweight divisions respectively, have been called up for world title eliminators with the WBO.

Both have lofty rankings with the Puerto Rico-based organisation, with WBO European champ Butler (20-1, 11 KOs) holding a number four position.

Cox (20-0, 12 KOs), who holds the same belt in the 168lb ranks, also holds the number four spot and is preceded by Jesse Hart, Patrick Nielsen and Gilberto Ramirez, who is challenging champion Arthur Abraham for the crown on April 9 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Boxing Scene spoke to Paul Butler after being informed of the news.

He said: “I saw it [the news about the final eliminator] on Twitter. I’m not sure when or where the fight will be. All I know is it’s not this one.

“My Dad’s been on the phone to [my promoter] Frank [Warren] recently and we’ve been told that [the fight with Jamie Conlan] is pretty much a done deal for May, so I’ll probably fight Conlan [the WBO Inter-Continental champ who holds a 15-0 (9) record] in the final eliminator.”

Butler, 27, faces Sebastian Sanchez (12-1, 9 KOs) for the vacant IBF International title on March 12 at Liverpool’s ECHO Arena, while news is awaited on the return of the 29-year-old Swindon southpaw Cox.

“It might be [that Butler faces Conlan in the final eliminator],” Warren, Butler’s handler, told Kugan Cassius of iFL TV, “but the fact is that Paul will be fighting in a final eliminator for the world title, so I’m pleased about that for him.”