BUTLER PROMISING BBC BOXING VIEWERS ‘A BRILLIANT NIGHT’
Connor Butler is urging boxing fans to tune in LIVE AND FREE on Fightzone and BBC iPlayer to watch his European Flyweight Title fight with Matt Windle this Friday, June 9th, promising a potential fight-of-the-year contender.
Scouser Butler and Birmingham’s Windle face off at the Liverpool Olympia in a hotly anticipated contest, with the Liverpudlian’s Commonwealth Flyweight belt also on the line.
Connor is unbeaten in 11 (one draw) and has looked the real deal – after a hugely successful amateur career – since turning pro in 2018. The 25-year-old, known as ‘Top Dog’ has a tough challenge on his hands against Windle though – but the baby-faced fighter insists he wouldn’t have it any other way. His Brummie opponent, who is also a professional poet, is a fighter with a reputation for liking a war and is riding the crest of a wave after claiming the Commonwealth Light Flyweight crown in his last fight (October 2022).
Also on the card, in chief support slot, is another Commonwealth Title fight when local Liverpool rivals – Ryan Farrag and Marcel Braithwaite – clash for the vacant super flyweight belt. This Scouse derby fight is another 50-50 encounter which has an intriguing plot. Farrag is a former European bantamweight champion with the greater experience but, at 35, cannot afford a loss against his 29-year-old foe, whose biggest win was for the English Title in 2019.
“Matt’s a respectful fella, he conducts himself in a good manner and I rate him as an opponent,” said Butler. “He won the Commonwealth (light flyweight) Title in a good performance, and he’s mature at the weight. I’m just looking forward to getting in there with him. I haven’t seen that much of him, I let my coaches do that. I just ask my manager to line the opponents up because I believe the best version of ‘Connor Butler’ beats anyone on the night.
“I’m so thankful to Steve Crump, Dennis Hobson and Stephen Vaughan. They got me in for the Commonwealth against Craig Derbyshire, and now I’m topping the bill in this homecoming fight. Getting in the ring and having these big fights, it’s what I want. I want the big names on my record, the big entertaining fights and to be topping the bill. I want to be putting it all on the line in 50-50 exciting fights, that’s how I want to be remembered.
“One hundred per cent, this’ll be a great fight to watch. I’m always in an entertaining fight, and so is Matt. This is why we’re top of the bill. And then you’ve also got a Scouse derby between Ryan Farrag and Marcel Braithwaite which is another cracker, and there’s also big bangers on the card like James Farrell. Anyone watching this show is going to see good classy boxers, big punchers, entertaining fights, we’ve got it all … and with me and Matt topping the bill, it’s going to be a brilliant night.”
