How the Butler prepared for Prizefighter
BoxRec News correspondent Paul Foley takes you into Danny Butler’s dressing room...
It’s 6.45 pm on a Friday night in London’s East End as Jane Couch with her phone close to ear arrives at the York Hall. The Prizefighter light-middleweights tournament will get underway in just over an hour and as Danny Butler’s promoter she is in a hurry to meet him in the dressing room.
A determined lady considering his fight with Brett Flournoy, the third of four quarter-finals, is not quite beckoning. But then again with £32,000 up for grabs why hang around?
On making contact with her I’m ushered behind the bright lights and blaring music into a tiny room which also housed Bradley Pryce, Martin Concepcion and eventual winner Prince Arron .
This is Danny’s second time in Prizefighter after failing at the semi-final stages to Martin Murray in November 2008. In tonight’s programme he spelled out his confidence because of this. “I know the format and how to box because I was in the middleweight one and this will only help me.”
It appears to be the case when I see Danny is in a relaxed mode sitting on a chair beside the entrance door with hands in his pockets and dressed casually in jeans and a thin blue top.
But that soon changes as we move to the opposite side of the room where he swaps the jeans for his “lucky” black shorts (he had never lost in them) and has his hands wrapped.
The Bristol man spent the day watching TV and then had a visit to Piccadilly Circus store Lillywhites, the scene of Thursday’s weigh-in, to collect a bag Jane had left behind. His food on fight day consisted of cereal and a chicken burger. (Not eaten together!)
He doesn’t engage in any eye contact or conversation with the other fighters displaying the quiet character his manager and trainer Tex Woodward compliments when I enquire of Danny’s assets. Surrounded by prizefighters and possible opponents doesn’t bother Butler in the slightest as he realises they are just human like him.
Danny is phlegmatic in his approach and rarely displays any graphic emotions or verbal outbursts but says he only has positive thoughts before a fight.
Jane is the livewire and highly talkative while Tex is calm and careful with his mouth but watchful with his eyes. So does he expect Danny to grab the prize?
“It will be a good fight. If Danny does what he has been doing in the gym he could win it but quite often what you do in rehearsal and what you do on the day are not always the same.”
Woodward closes this exchange with several ironic words considering the outcome. “He won’t let himself down that is for sure.”
Couch says the key to victory will be his high workrate and she is proud that Butler has already faced top level opponents like Darren Barker and fought for major titles yet is still only 22.
As fight time draws ever nearer Danny becomes more withdrawn and appears nervous while picking his shots on the pads with Martin Concepcion close by but in his zone.
After leaving the room for a while to take a glance at Pryce and Sinclair I return via the stage and sit on stairs opposite him.
Glancing over I enquire, “You ready?” to which he nods back. Taking a breather, Danny fixes his eyes on the TV displaying the closing moments before the dressing room is exchanged for the ring.
Knowing this he swallows deeply and paces around the room with head directed to the floor. Jane gives her last words to Danny, “A good night - you're ready.”
There isn’t any shouting or heavy psyching up.
The call is made and his walk begins. Just before leaving a Scottish man wishes him good luck along with Enzo Calzaghe.
As Danny becomes visible in his white help the heroes t-shirt the crowd begins to erupt while he stands on a platform. He heads towards the ring knowing the next twelve minutes will decide the course of his night...
(Ed. writes - Danny threw the kitchen sink at Scouse soldier Brett Flournoy but to no avail. Flournoy was more clever than anyone expected and won by a shut out on two cards and a Butler-generous 29-28 on the third.)
