Danny Butler
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By Andrew Wake: Bristol’s Danny Butler gets a second bite at Prizefighter cherry at York Hall this Friday and hopes it will put in the British title picture at 154lbs.
Danny, 22, fought in the middleweight version of Matchroom’s popular tournament in late 2008 but lost in the semi-final to eventual winner Martin Murray.
Now a weight class lighter, and with former women’s world champ Jane Couch backing him, the West Country boxer sees no reason why he can’t go all the way.
“I can’t believe I got a second chance and it’s all down to Jane, she got me into it,” he said.
“Preparations and everything have gone really well, I just can’t wait. I want to get second time lucky.
“I’ve gone down in weight to light-middle and I feel a lot better for it. I’ve been given a good diet plan by Roy Duvell, who I’d like to say thank you to. He got me down to this weight easily really. I feel a lot stronger because I’ve done it properly, I haven’t crashed the weight.
“To have experience of Prizefighter before as well, I feel like it gives me a bit of an advantage. I know what it’s all about. I’ve been at the same venue and I know what it’s like to do three rounds, have a break and then go back in.
“You’ve just got to look at the others who have won Prizefighter and where they have gone on to. It changes your career a lot. Hopefully it’ll boost my career and put me up in the rankings and set me for titles.”
Last November Butler got a shot at the Commonwealth and vacant British middleweight crowns when he was drafted in to face Darren Butler on just 48 hours notice.
He was soundly beaten in seven rounds but does not regret taking the fight.
“It was short notice but the reason I done it was because I’d just lost to [Darren] McDermott by one point for the English title [two weeks earlier] and I got the call and I thought it was a big opportunity and was too good to turn down.
“I was fit with only fighting two weeks before, maybe I could have been a bit fitter but I gained really good experience from it.”
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However, taking the Barker fight was a contributory factor in Butler parting ways with Hatton Promotions but he is hoping to use his skills on Friday to entice another promoter to snap him up.
“I’m managed by Tex Woodward and Jane [Couch] was promoting me and hopefully she’ll put me on in Bristol again, but I’m open to promoters,” he said.
“This [Prizefighter] could put me in the shop window and raise my profile.”
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