Butlin cancelled Christmas so he can clatter Chisora by Tom Podmore Jan 9th 2008

Melton Mowbray heavyweight Paul Butlin admitted he had to turn in to a 21st century Scrooge so he could be in the best shape of his life ahead of the most significant contest of his six-year professional career in Bethnal Green this weekend. Butlin goes nose-to-nose with undefeated former ABA champ Derek Chisora at the York Hall on Saturday evening (January 12) and decided to forego any usual Christmas celebrations so he could be in the best frame of mind and condition to take on the touted Finchley-based puncher. Frank Warren, Chisora's manager and promoter, believes his hard-hitting fighter has the ability and power to win recognised world titles one day. Butlin is far from perturbed, however, and is hoping for a better 2008 after a dismal previous 12 months that saw him box only once, a four-round points win over dangerous Luke Simpkin in March, and then saw the biggest fight of his career postponed less than 24 hours before he was set to step in the ring. The Leicestershire doorman was scheduled to fight Matthew Ellis in Leicester on October 6 but the Blackpool boxer, a former top-rated pro until crushing stoppage defeats at the hands of Russia's Denis Bakhtov and Olympic gold medallist Audley Harrison, pulled out the evening before and left Paul fuming. “He obviously lost his bottle when it came so close to the night and it left me without a fight,” said Butlin, 11-3 (2), when he found out that his six-rounder was off. “I'm beside myself with anger.” But a win over the three-fight (all wins, one quickly) heavyweight known as ‘Del Boy' and Paul could be in a position for his first title fight, be it Midland Area, British Masters or English, later on in the year. Its something he desperately wants to achieve before he hangs the gloves up. And, with victory imperative to revive his flagging, inconsistent and often frustrating professional career, Butlin sacrificed his own Christmas for a bout being promoted by Frank Warren in the Capital. The fight could well be shown at some stage on the Setanta Sports broadcast. Butlin said it was something that was needed to be done: “I trained twice on Christmas Day so I didn't really have a Christmas, but it's a sacrifice that I've had to make. It will be worth it when I've beaten him in his hometown on Saturday night. “Chisora is a DJ so he won't have had the same kind of preparation that I have had in the last couple of months,” continued the 31-year-old Rutland scrapper, who often spars with Matt Skelton ahead of the Bedford mauler's contests, in The Stamford Mercury. “This is a chance that I have got to take and I've trained unbelievably hard because it's a fight that I've simply got to win if want to keep a British title fight on course.” Whilst the 24-year-old is being talked of as a future world champion – he has yet to concede a round – Butlin believes he will inflict the first stain on the Londoner's fledgling ledger and will be too fit, too powerful and too ambitious for the former England international amateur. “He hits hard,” continued Neil Tomlinson-trained Butlin,” but I will be at him from the first bell and plan to wear him down so that I make sure he doesn't come off his stool for the last round. “I'm in excellent shape at the moment, but I will be in even better shape by the end of the week and on the night of the fight. “I've had a lot of fights pulled on the day but this fight is being promoted by Frank Warren so the only reason it won't go ahead is if either of us get injured so I've got my chance and I'm going to take it with both fists.”

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