By Luke Furman

Steven Butler put in a methodical performance that allowed him to stop dangerous veteran Carson Jones in the seventh round on Saturday night at the Montreal Casino in Montreal. 

Butler's record was raised to 24-1-1. This is a 21st knockout for the 22-year-old Montrealer, who fought this fight in the middleweight limit, where he is ranked eighth in the World Boxing Organization (WBO).

For Jones, it was his third loss in a row after dropping a decision in his last fight to Ted Cheeseman in February.

"I feel stronger on my legs at 160 pounds and I have not lost my power," said Butler,  who holds the international title of the International Boxing Organization (IBO) at super welterweight, to La Presse.

"We are keeping the door open for big fights at 154 pounds, because I'm able to make the weight easily, but I think my future is at 160."

His coach, Renald Boisvert, gave his take on the matter.

"Before, I would have told you that it's over at 154, but it's been so easy to make the weight at 160 that I'm not shutting the door. We will go at this scientifically, measure exactly his rate of guys to have a precise idea of ??his muscle mass and we'll see. But what's encouraging is that he's still striking with such force. "

He was, however, very satisfied with the performance of his protégé.

"As much as I was not happy with his last outing, this time I am very happy. He followed the plan to the letter, he showed maturity."

Butler was often criticized for launching everything in the early rounds and this time he studied his opponent and broke him down.

"That's what Rénald asked me to do," Butler said.

"I did not try to knock him out, I knew it would come naturally. I felt that I was hurting him from the start, but it was the game plan we had to follow and I followed it to the letter. My corner told me, 'If you hurt him now, you'll hurt him later.' That's what happened."

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org.