The 25 year-old from Ellesmere Port defeated compatriot Stuart Hall via split decision following a swift move up from 115lbs and is now stipulated to face American mandatory challenger Randy Caballero.
As Caballero stepped aside to allow Butler to take the title from Hall, there is no room for maneuvering the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’ as the Briton contemplates his next move. A unification fight with WBA belt holder Jamie McDonnell has already been discussed openly on both sides, although Butler says any contest would only be for one championship.
“I am still not sure what the plan is about staying at 118lbs,” Butler exclusively told World Boxing News.
“I will sit down after a break next week and talk with the team. It’s no secret that my weight is 115lbs. So it makes sense to drop down and become a two-weight world champion.
“The only way the McDonnell fight can happen is if I vacate the IBF title. The IBF wouldn’t allow me to defend that against McDonnell, with Randy Caballero being mandatory. That’s only fair. He deserves his shot.
“I personally would fight anybody anywhere. If we do stay at 118lbs and that means going to the US to defend my title, then so be it.
“If we could make the Cabellero fight at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, that would be even better. It would be great to fight him at home in my first defense.
“Everything will be sorted out in the coming weeks. I’m hoping to be back fighting again in September time.”
IBF
The IBF super-flyweight title will be contested next month when Zolani Tete and Teiru Kinoshita square-off in Kobe, Japan, for the vacant belt, and Butler could conceivably be in line to face the winner if he decides to head back down.
Butler would undoubtedly be looked upon favorably for the opportunity by the IBF as the current champion at bantamweight. Caballero is then free to fulfill his mandatory shot against the next in line – which at the moment is Daiki Kameda.
Everything hinges on what Butler decides is the best move for his career. The decision comes on the back of his most outstanding performance to date.
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