Paul Butler To Return On October 22 In Cardiff

By Elliot Foster

Paul Butler will return to the ring next month.

The Ellesmere Port sensation, who is a former IBF bantamweight champion, will have his first fight at the weight in more than two years on October 22, exclusively live on BoxNation.

Butler (21-1, 12 KOs) was last in the ring in March and, after failing weight for a June fight against Petchbarngborn Kokietgym, has been out of action since.

But since then, the 27-year-old, who was set to have Oliver Harrison in his corner at the ECHO Arena three months ago, has teamed up with Joe Gallagher and will have him by his side for advice on the night.

‘The Baby-Faced Assassin’ is scheduled to have his comeback contest at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales, as part of a Frank Warren-promoted show headed by Liam Williams’ British super-welterweight title defence against Ahmet Patterson.

“It’s been far too long,” Butler wrote on Facebook, “and I can’t wait to get back in there.”

Boxing Scene understands that the fight will be over a distance of 10 rounds but that is yet to be officially confirmed.

The show will feature Nathanael Wilson, Chris Eubank’s estranged son, and a whole host of other action including Tommy Langford, who last week suffered disappointment as Chris Eubank Jr. withdrew from their proposed British middleweight title clash.

Bradley Skeete will make a mandatory defence of his British welterweight crown against Shayne Singleton and Thomas Stalker and Craig Evans will do battle for the third time, with the former’s WBO European lightweight crown at stake, while Chris Jenkins will also see action.

Elsewhere, there are spots on the card for Lyon Woodstock, Jay Harris, Alex Hughes and Ilford’s Anthony Yarde, who scored a one-round stoppage on his US debut which came as part of the undercard to Saúl ‘Canelo’ Álvarez’s nine-round stoppage of now-former WBO super-welterweight world champion Liam Smith at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.