Paul Butler Secures The Services of Trainer Joe Gallagher

By Elliot Foster

Paul Butler has teamed up with a new coach as he looks to become a world champion again.

The former IBF bantamweight champion, 27, from Ellesmere Port, left long-time mentor Arnie Farnell earlier this year, seeking fresh impetus as he looked to mount another assault on the world stage.

Butler (21-1, 12 KOs) initially sought the help of Salford-based trainer Oliver Harrison, who also trains the likes of Liverpudlian Rocky Fielding and St Helens’ four-time world title challenger Martin Murray.

But after failing to make weight for a fringe WBO title defence at super-flyweight in June, Butler never fought with Harrison in his corner.

And now ‘The Baby-Faced Assassin’ has enlisted the expertise of 2015 Trainer of the Year Joe Gallagher in the hope that he can once again reach the pinnacle of the sport and win another global honour up at bantamweight, which is where he plans to campaign from now on.

He has lost just once in 22 fights, when he was stopped inside eight rounds at Liverpool’s ECHO Arena by talented South African Zolani Tete last March in a challenge for the IBF title at 115lbs.

New trainer Gallagher already trains world champion duo Anthony Crolla and Liam Smith, who reign at lightweight and super-welterweight respectively.

The other three Smith brothers – Paul, Stephen and Callum – are also in the gym along with former world champion Scott Quigg, British title holders Scott Cardle and Hosea Burton as well as prospects Marcus Morrison and Callum Johnson.

Details of Butler’s first fight under Joe Gallagher are expected to be revealed by promoter Frank Warren in due course.