WBO bantamweight champion Paul Butler says he doesn’t fear the power WBC/WBA/IBF champion Naoya Inoue, who served up a brutal two round beatdown of Nonito Donaire in Tokyo on Tuesday and immediately called for a fight with Butler to crown the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world.
Butler was made WBO title holder last month after winning the interim belt with a masterclass performance against Jonas Sultan at Probellum Liverpool and has already told Inoue’s representatives that he wants to fight their man.
“I’ve read all sorts of comments and predictions about the fight, already… ‘Butler has a death-wish’, ‘Inoue to win by murder,’ ‘like signing someone’s death warrant’” Butler told Probellum.com.
“He hits very hard but what’s the worst that can happen? He knocks me out. I’ve been stopped before and let me make it clear, I will be going into that fight believing I can win. I will be walking to the ring believing, as I always do, that I can win the fight and become the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world.”
One of boxing’s leading pound-for-pound fighters, Inoue is a star attraction in Japan and Butler has no problem with facing ‘Monster’ in his backyard.
“I want the fight in Japan, I would be silly not to,” he said. “If the fight could be made over here, fine, but if I get extra for fighting in Japan, then that’s what I’ll do.
“Hopefully contact can continue between both teams. Before the Donaire fight, Inoue’s team had put the feelers out, asking if I would take the fight and, if so, where would I want it? I’ve told them I want it and I want it in Japan. Hopefully we can get this big fight.”
Butler has yet to return to the gym with coach Joe Gallagher but has started to ready his body for a return to a grueling training camp in order to prepare for Inoue.
“From now, I would need 12 weeks, at least,” Butler said. “I’ve not been back in the gym since the Sultan fight, but I could be ready by the start of October.
“I was nervous going into the Inoue vs Donaire fight because I was hoping Inoue would win as I know how big a fight with him would be.
“I was starting to get itchy knuckles throughout the build-up and did my first punching session, since winning the world title, on Monday night. I’ll continue to put in one or two sessions a day now until we get the green light and it’s all systems go.”
They always do big cards in Japan on or around NYE, this seems like a fight perfect for one of those. Wish Butler all the best, but I would not be surprised if Inoue literally stopped him in the very first round.
I do not think I have ever seen Butler fight. I know I have heard his name so I will have to boxrec him. He likely does get stopped but I like the attitude. This is his chance and he wants to take it. I like that in a fighter.
Absolutely Pete. He’s 33, he’s a world champion. Why not?! Time to shoot his shot.
Inoue in 1! (Changing things up a bit)
Might be a pretty good guess Roy. Inoue has 2 ko’s of world champions in the first round. And the last guy to beat Butler, Emmanuel Rodriguez (who Inoue stopped in the second), had him down twice in the first round.
Who are these guys
Brave fighter and brilliant attitude, I hope he has a great fight, but I strongly suspect Inoue would win by stoppage.
Sounds very confident. Never seen him, but it sounds like he wants it.
Butler holds the other “title”.. he knows he has to fight Inoue. Might as well fight in Japan and maximize his payday. He has zero power but might be slick and elusive enough to go 3-4 rounds. Donaire didn’t clinch when he got hurt and tried to make it a firefight. Will see how Butler deals with it. More interested in Inoue vs Fulton at 122.
At 33 Butler wants a big payday, Inoue is the only fight that can guarantee that. Butler might retire after being starched by the Monster
Agreed-probably also knows that he dosen’t have a chance to win this.
Wonder what he is walking around at if he hasn’t been in the gym. Don’t think thats ever a good sign, might be blowing up like Paddy Pimblett
Hey why not. He can enjoy a Japanese vacation before he gets starched