Chasing Rainbows: Paul Butler refuses to be at Naoya Inoue’s service on December 13

DEBATE RAGES, as ever, over who the world’s finest boxer is, pound-for-pound. But Paul Butler makes what may be the conclusive argument.

“You’ve got [Oleksandr] Usyk, but most people think Tyson Fury would beat him,” he says. “You’ve received Terence Crawford, however some folks assume [Errol] Spence will beat him. And Canelo [Saul Alvarez] was overwhelmed by [Dmitry] Bivol not way back.

“But there’s nobody that people say will beat Inoue.”

And but, it’s that very same Naoya Inoue who Butler will attempt to beat on December 13 in far-away Japan in what is without doubt one of the most daunting abroad missions ever undertaken by a British boxer.

No, there aren’t any apparent names one can put ahead as a possible conqueror of the Yokohama “Monster”. Not even Paul Butler – besides by Paul Butler himself. He is aware of the scale of the duty and he is aware of he’s being written off by all people outdoors of the 4 partitions of Gallagher’s Gym in Bolton. But he politely begs to differ.

“I don’t give two shits,” he says of the predictions of a crushing defeat. “Most of those folks on their laptops or telephones have by no means put on a pair of boxing gloves. They’re simply keyboard warriors. I’m attempting to make historical past – let the haters hate!

“People are writing me off, saying it will be over in one or two rounds, posting things like ‘RIP Butler’ on social media. If I was 25, I’d be responding to every comment, but now I just ignore it.”

Now a extra mature 34, Butler could lately take a realistic method to on-line criticism, however whereas some corners of Twitter and Facebook are inhabited by a intentionally and gleefully caustic breed of “fan”, that’s not to say their predictions of a swift defeat are with out benefit.

Inoue, in spite of everything, is a formidable expertise. Wherever you rank him within the pound-for-pound record, he’s undeniably within the dialog for the highest spot, in addition to already a candidate when discussing the perfect bantamweight, and finest Japanese boxer, of all time.

More than that, it’s the manner he has powered by some very, excellent opposition in very, very quick order. He punches in a manner that’s merely not seen within the decrease weight lessons. That is why, keyboard warriors or not, many are predicting one other fast evening’s work.

But Butler reckons he can climate this early storm and, the deeper the battle goes, the higher his probabilities.

“Everyone looks at those two fights in the World Boxing Super Series [in 2018 and 2019, when Inoue beat Juan Carlos Payano in just 70 seconds and then Emmanuel Rodriguez in two rounds], but some people have taken him deep,” he says.

“Jason Moloney took him seven rounds, the Thai [Aran Dipaen] took him eight rounds, [David] Carmona went the distance. Good guys, but not necessarily the biggest names. It showed there are a few holes in Inoue, especially if he doesn’t get you out of there inside two or three rounds. If I get past four-five rounds, I’ll win.”

That’s an enormous if, and I’m not being a keyboard warrior in saying so. Actual warriors reminiscent of Payano, Rodriguez, Nonito Donaire (overwhelmed in two rounds in a June rematch of his 2019 distance battle with Inoue) and Butler’s countryman, Jamie McDonnell (who lasted lower than two minutes in a 2018 journey to Tokyo), are among the many world-level names who failed to do exactly that. So, how will Butler handle it?

“He punches a lot harder than me and he’s dangerous with both hands, so I’ve got to defuse the power and avoid being hit,” he says.

“He begins quick and shuts a variety of opponents down rapidly. To cease that, my ft and fingers will play an enormous half. I transfer my ft higher and sooner than him, and my head motion is best.

“He’s higher than me in some methods – his energy and energy, clearly – however I match him in sure areas. I simply want to match him there so I can set issues up for what I do higher.

“I’ve received to be certain I don’t go away gaps, as he’ll exploit that. My boxing mind could have to be bang-on for 36 minutes.

“He has weaknesses. I’m not going to say too much, but we’re working on them.”

Remarkably, for a 12-year, 36-fight veteran and two-time ‘world’ titleholder, Butler has by no means boxed outdoors the UK as an expert. That he’ll journey 6,000 miles to face Inoue inside Tokyo’s Ariake Coliseum in his maiden abroad project provides to the pessimistic predictions. But the person who has lived his entire life within the city of Ellesmere Port in Cheshire says that is what his profession has been working in direction of.

“I’ve always wanted to box abroad as a pro and to walk out into an arena full of fans booing me,” he says, “although I probably won’t get that in Japan, because it’s a different kind of atmosphere there than in America or England. I know the fans are very respectful. But the thought of going into the lion’s den and causing that upset is amazing.”

And, true sufficient, Butler didn’t have to take this battle. As the holder of a WBO title, he might have sat on that belt, cherry-picked his challengers, and invited them on to his house turf. Instead, he’s gunning for the real bantamweight championship of the world.

“It’s for all the marbles,” Butler says, referring to the 4 main sanctioning physique belts. Inoue holds the opposite three and, whereas he’s already recognised because the world champion by Boxing News no matter what’s round his waist, he’s clearly a completist when it comes to trophy-hunting. “No Japanese boxer has ever been undisputed [since three or four belts have been recognised], so it’s massive for Japan.”

And for Butler, too.

“It’s a chance to box someone great; he’s a superstar over there, the David Beckham of Japan, a pound-for-pound fighter, for the undisputed title. Why wouldn’t I take it?” he says. “I came into boxing to win world titles, and this is a chance to win every belt there is. It was a no-brainer.”

There is a sure sense of future to this match. Butler says he and Inoue have been on one another’s radars since 2016, however the fates conspired to hold them aside – after which they reconvened to permit them to meet now. Indeed, the first motivation for Inoue focusing on Butler is so he can win the one remaining main belt at the load, and Butler’s possession of it got here by way of a couple of twists of destiny.

Normally, a fighter can count on to win a title in not more than 12 rounds of boxing. For Butler, it took the perfect a part of 5 months. He had twice been lined up to problem his predecessor, Johnriel Casimero, and twice the battle was referred to as off at the final minute. First, Casimero withdrew from their December 2021 bout in Dubai, citing a viral an infection, although Butler reckons it was a canopy for weight-making difficulties. That principle gained traction when the Filipino was then pulled from their rescheduled bout this previous April 23 in Liverpool for violating British Boxing Board of Control guidelines on weight-cutting by utilizing a sauna within the days previous the bout.

Butler as an alternative boxed Jonas Sultan, who had been on standby within the expectation that Casimero may drop out once more, and pitched an aesthetic show of box-punching to earn a unanimous choice and, for what it’s value, “interim” WBO champion distinction. Almost two weeks later, the WBO stripped Casimero and upgraded Butler to full champion standing, having not felt happy that Casimero might ever once more make bantamweight.

As title-winning routes go, it should have paled as compared to dethroning a champion within the ring (although Butler had beforehand accomplished exactly that, dethroning Stuart Hall for the IBF 118lbs strap by way of cut up choice in a 2014 tear-up), however Butler is pleased with the chain of occasions even so. It is due to this belt – nonetheless he got here to maintain it – that he received the chance he wished.

“It’s the right fight at the right time,” he reckons. “Inoue asked for it, and his team were very easy to negotiate with. He wanted it, and he wanted it this year, because he wants to move up [to 122lbs]. It’s no secret he doesn’t make the weight easily.”

Is that maybe a glimmer of hope for the Ellesmere Port underdog? The proof of Inoue’s most up-to-date outing – the Donaire rematch – would recommend not, although Butler counters that Donaire’s personal weight-cut might need contributed to that resounding outcome.

“You couldn’t knock Inoue’s performance,” he says of that June evening in Saitama. “To go from having a battle of the yr contender [Inoue-Donaire I in 2019] to blowing him away in a spherical and a half was one thing particular.

“But Donaire was getting on a bit [at 39] and maybe had issues fighting at bantamweight. He’d fought up at featherweight, after all, and it doesn’t get easier [to cut weight] as you get older.”

Butler himself is aware of this battle, and actually this was what dominated him out of a possible Inoue showdown six years in the past, one weight division down.

He explains: “Back in 2016, I used to be down to field in a WBO eliminator at super-flyweight [when Inoue held that belt], however I simply couldn’t make the load anymore, so the battle didn’t occur.

“It was the last time I tried to make super-flyweight. The other guy [Karoon Jarupianlerd] ended up fighting Inoue [losing by 10th round knockout in September 2016], so I would have been in line for him if I’d won the eliminator.”

Switching weight divisions at that time price Butler not solely a shot at Inoue then, but in addition that the majority essential of belongings – momentum. He had to largely content material himself with stay-busy fights [a non-title rematch with Hall, comfortably negotiated the second time round, aside] till May 2018, when he was slated to battle Emmanuel Rodriguez for the vacant IBF bantam belt. But the weight-making boogieman raised his head once more, Butler coming in 3.5lbs over the restrict, that means solely Rodriguez might take the title. And he did simply that – emphatically – dropping Butler twice and profitable each spherical on two of the choose’s playing cards.

This was the identical Rodriguez that Inoue would trounce a yr later in Glasgow, within the semi-final match of the World Boxing Super Series event that Inoue would finally win. But drawing a comparability between the 2 outcomes is deceptive, Butler argues, as he was removed from at his finest towards Rodriguez, and Rodriguez made errors towards Inoue.

“I was ill for two-three weeks before the fight,” he says, “and I missed four days a week in the gym. I should have pulled out, but a carrot was held over me in [the prospect of a place in] the World Boxing Super Series. I tried my hardest to make the weight; I trained for three and a half hours on the morning of the weigh-in.”

As for Rodriguez’s capitulation towards Inoue, “he won the first round, and then he got overconfident and met Inoue head-on, which is the last thing you should do.”

Butler guarantees he has the correct gameplan, in addition to the nous to implement it. Just as crucially, he says the load points, at bantamweight at least, had been a one-off so, assuming he stays wholesome by this battle camp, he could have the health required for an extended, exhausting battle. Maybe, simply possibly, extra so than his opponent, if the rumours are true that Inoue is impatiently eyeing super-bantamweight.

Furthermore, Butler now has that momentum, having remained unbeaten since Rodriguez 4 and a half years in the past and coming off arguably his most interesting outcome.

“Beating Sultan, that’s a good, credible win,” he says. “He’s overwhelmed Casimero [in 2017], in spite of everything, and it was most likely my finest efficiency to date. I confirmed towards Sultan I can stand and commerce – not that I’ll stand and commerce continuously with Inoue, simply I do know I can do it after I want to. I received’t be on the transfer continuously, both. It will be a mixture of kinds. You’re going to see an excellent boxing show.

“Listen, I know this is a very tough fight; I’m not deluded. It’s the toughest fight of my life, but I’m looking forward to it and I’m putting the work in. I know I can beat Inoue and I’m training to do that. I’m working my bollocks off. I wouldn’t be in the gym every day if I didn’t think I’d win. Come December 13, that’s my chance to prove everybody wrong.”

If he does, it is going to really be a fairytale ending. And this journey to the Far East might need one outdoors of the ring, too, no matter occurs inside it.

“I’ve always wanted to visit Japan,” Butler says. (*13*)