Tag Archives: Paul Butler

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Undefeated Puerto Rican Bantamweight Manny Rodriguez Ready for Former World Champion Paul Butler This Saturday at 02 Arena

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Bantamweight contender Emmanuel “Manny” Rodriguez and his team have landed safely and ready to face former world champion Paul “Baby Faced Assassin” Butler for the vacant IBF World Championship, this Saturday, May 5, at the O2 Arena in London.

 

 

 

 

Presented by Matchroom Boxing, Rodriguez (17-0, 12 KOs), of Puerto Rico, and Butler (26-1, 14 KOs), 29, of England, will meet in a 12-round supporting bout to the all-British rematch between former World Heavyweight Champions Tony Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs) and David Haye (28-3, 26 KOs).

 

 

 

 

Rodriguez almost had his very promising boxing career derailed for a time by an unfortunate car accident in which he burned 66% of his body. After a long rehab, he returned, and went on a, thus far, 17-fight tear through the professional ranks.

 

 

 

The 25-year-old was the mandatory contender to face former champion Ryan Burnett, who chose to relinquish his belts. This allowed for Butler to slide into the fight for the unclaimed belt.

 

 

 

29-year-old Butler previously held the IBF belt, but before defending it, elected to drop down in weight to face then-champion Zolani Tete… and was stopped in the eighth round. He has won nine fights since.

 

 

 

“It has been a long road to this fight, but I am ready to win my first world championship,” said Rodriguez. “Paul Butler is a good fighter, but nothing can stop me. I have worked too hard to get here. It doesn’t matter that we’re in his backyard. I’ve done everything right getting ready for this and I look forward to bringing the belt back to my beloved country of Puerto Rico.”

 

 

 

Rodriguez’ co-promoter, Leon Margules of Warriors Boxing, says a star will be born Saturday night.

 

 

 

“Manny has always been a superstar in the making. I am happy he is finally getting the chance to shine in front of a large audience, worldwide. I have no doubt he will win impressively and set himself up for several big showdowns in the near future.”

 

 

 

 

 
boxing, UK Boxing

BUTLER MEETS RODRIGUEZ FOR IBF WORLD TITLE ON MAY 5

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AWE to Air Live Bellew v. Haye II, on Saturday, May 5th

 

 

The Highly Anticipated Rematch between Tony Bellew and David Haye to air Live and Exclusively on AWE
 

 

SAN DIEGO, CALIF. – April 12, 2018 -Paul Butler gets the chance to become two-time IBF World Bantamweight champion when he tackles undefeated Emmanuel Rodriguez at The O2 in London on May 5, live on AWE-A Wealth of Entertainment.

 

 

 

Butler’s clash with Rodriguez is part of a huge night of action in Greenwich as Heavyweight rivals Tony Bellew and David Haye clash in a hotly-anticipated rematch.

 

 

 

Butler landed the IBF strap in April 2014 by taking it from Stuart Hall in Newcastle before vacating the strap to move down to Super-Flyweight in March 2015 to challenge IBF champion Zolani Tete.

 

 

 

The ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ returned to 118lbs and back into title contention when he comfortably saw off Hall in a rematch in Liverpool in September, and is rated at four in the IBF, one spot behind top-rated Rodriguez.

 

 

 

The unbeaten 25 year old visitor is hotly-rated having raced to 17-0 in the paid ranks with 12 wins inside the distance, a rise all the more impressive following an amateur background that was stunted by a car accident.

 

 

 

Rodriguez’s trip to London is his first outside the Americas since turning pro and his first over the championship distance, and Butler intends to make the trip a miserable one for the Puerto Rican and reclaim his title.

 

 

 

“I’m very excited for this,” said Butler. “It’s the reason we came over to Eddie in the first place, I knew he would deliver the big fights for me. We’re just four weeks away. It’s a big test but I’m confident.

 

 

 

“It’s an honor to contest the IBF title again. I want to win it back then hopefully defend which I didn’t have the chance to do last time.

 

 

 

“It sounded a good idea at the time to vacate but looking back now I should have kept hold of the belt. I should have worked on my strength and conditioning, filled out and defended my title. I’ve definitely got some unfinished business with this – it would be brilliant to go out there and win it again.

 

 

 

“It’s a tougher test the last time I won the title, but I’m up for the challenge. I’ve improved myself. He’s touted to be this next big superstar, but how many of them come over here and get turned on their heads?

 

 

 

“I never used to look at my opponents, but since I’ve linked up with Joe he’s always sending me little clips. He looks a good kid, he likes to work at midrange but in truth I don’t want to say too much about what he does and doesn’t do well.

 

 

 

“I don’t care how big and tough he is – we both have two arms, two legs, he’s from Puerto Rico and I’m from Ellesmere Port so let’s get it on. I can see this being a very good fight, we both like to go body to head, head to body but I’ll come out being the two-time IBF World Bantamweight champion.”

 

 

 

Super-Middleweights John Ryder and Jamie Cox clash in a crucial clash in the 168lbs division and Martin J. Ward defends his European Super-Featherweight title against James Tennyson.

 

 

 

Expected start time is 3 PM ET / 12 PM PT.

 

The fight card will also be streamed live via KlowdTV on the AWE channel.

 

 

Visitwww.klowdtv.com for additional information.