Prizefighter: Why the Butler never served!

Paul Foley gets the dressing room view after Danny Butler’s defeat...

Trainer Tex Woodward had warned before the fight that what is planned in theory doesn’t always work out practically.

Friday night’s Prizefighter turned out to be such an occasion for Bristol’s Danny Butler after his night and hopes of landing a £32,000 pay day were ended abruptly thanks to the skillful (in Danny’s case awkward) hands and feet of Brett Flournoy.

As Master of Ceremonies John McDonald read out the three judges' scorecards, Flournoy’s name was sounded and his hands were raised.

That’s how quick a 22-year-old's dream finished.  But Danny is no sore loser. He sportingly congratulated him in the ring and headed off back to the dressing room.

“A fair result,” came forth the words of his promoter Jane Couch as she too made her way into a more private place where the inquest could begin.

Tex wasn’t a happy man and made it known to his pupil. “You threw it away.” Danny looked dejected as he sat quietly on a chair in the corner of his changing room and began to search himself.

There was a long pause and this is where I had to display a touch of tact in allowing the defeated pugilist to gather his thoughts before probing him.

Danny rose off his chair and began drying himself before taking off his sweat soaked shorts. The victor Brett Flournoy had to pass Butler’s way on route to his room next door, and the two Prizefighters embraced.

I love to see such a tight knit family, who once their gloves are off become for the most part the best of friends. Not a hint of trash talk or any stench of bad attitude. This is one of the many qualities that makes this art so noble.

Jane then began to display her motherly influence on Danny. “It will come,” she said in a soft and encouraging tone with one hand on the back of her fighting son.

The post-fight verdict on this Prizefighter was one of a mutual realisation that Danny hadn’t performed.

“He didn’t beat you, you beat yourself and you're the better fighter," said Couch. “I just couldn’t get to him,” replied Butler.

Not surprisingly he revealed Flournoy was his first southpaw opponent which played a crucial role in his reversal.

Tex claimed Danny hadn’t listened to the instructions of jumping on Flournoy and said this was the reason for defeat. “You don’t win fights unless you punch," and Jane added “You wasn’t busy enough.”

At one point Jane hinted to Tex to cool it and not make Danny feel any worse than he did.

“I feel disappointed for all my fans that have travelled down. I feel as though I have let them down.”

His mind then turned to spending the night with them and his girlfriend in East London’s Stratford and the idea of heading towards Covent Garden in search of a club.

Promoter Jane promises that his next fight will be in Bristol and Danny would love to have a rematch in his hometown with the man who has just spoilt his night while Jane is setting her sights on a making a match with Kerry Hope.

That’s one for the future but back in the dressing-room a friend consoles him and tells Danny his girlfriend is waiting outside for him.

At 9.50pm he heads towards the door on a quest to meet her. There will be no semi-final or final for him.

Danny does try his utmost. He strives hard to please.

In this could lay a vital clue for his development. I wonder and I did suggest to him that maybe if he relaxed a little we would see a lot more of his talent.

Two Prizefighter tournaments but not the prize he pursued.

The drive home in the morning will seem a bit longer and a bit lighter.

No trophy, no £32,000. Instead a purse of £4,000 like all losing quarter-finalists.

It’s now been three defeats in a row for Danny but no word of retirement.

Yes it is a setback but this Butler will not resign just yet.

He still has a vision of serving up a treat.