Paul Butler will fight Naoya Inoue for the undisputed World Bantamweight Championship at the Ariake Arena in Tokyo in December.
Current WBO champion Butler (34-2, 15 KOs) will head to the Land of the Rising Sun knowing a victory will see him become boxing’s first undisputed bantamweight world champion in half a century.
‘The Baby-faced Assassin’ from Ellesmere Port won the vacant interim bantamweight title back in April after putting on a dominant display against Jonas Sultan in front of a home crowd at the M&S Bank Arena. It was a comfortable points decision win for the 33-year-old after the ringside judges unanimously scored the contest 116-112, 118-110 and 117-111.
After winning the interim title to make it his eighth consecutive win, Butler was elevated to the full time WBO Bantamweight Champion after Filipino, John Riel Casimero was stripped of his title after pulling out of his scheduled bout with the Cheshire man for a second time.
Since becoming champ, the Probellum fighter has been chomping at the bit to get his undisputed title shot and now it has been made a reality, when he faces the ‘monster’ on his home turf.
From the minute he regained the world title, Paul Butler has said publicly he wants the undisputed fight with Inoue.
No tune ups.
No voluntary defences against bin men.
Straight in to the monsters back yard.How it should be.
— Adam Catterall (@AdamCatterall) October 13, 2022
Inoue is the holder of the IBF, WBA and WBC belts in the bantamweight division and maintains a perfect boxing record of 23 wins with 20 of those coming by way of knockout.
The 29-year-old phenom is keen on moving up weight divisions in the near future, but first he’ll have to defeat the Englishman.
The Japanese fighter who possesses efficient footwork, knockout power, speed and accuracy will undoubtedly be Butler’s biggest test to date.
Butler said: “I’ve been boxing for over 20 years and all the successes and setbacks have led me here, to the biggest fight of my career, with the biggest prize in the sport on offer.
“I am under no illusions as to the size of the task that faces me, but I have been going to bed dreaming of becoming the undisputed bantamweight champion of the world.”
Butler added he is aware of the dangers going into the fight but is adamant that no one should count him out. He said: “Inoue is a phenomenal fighter but not one person should be underestimating me, my skills, or my resolve. I am going to Japan to write my name into the history of our sport.”
Paul Butler will take on Naoya Inoue on December 13.
