'Put your Prizefigher money on me!' says Danny Butler

Likeable Danny Butler is not a man who has built his reputation on shunning a test and he continues in that fashion when he is one of the eight light-middleweights contesting this Friday’s Prizefighter at East London’s fight front room York Hall.

His quest for prize winner begins with a stern test against nine-fight undefeated Merseysider Brett Flournoy and could continue with men like Steve O’Meara, Martin Concepcion, George Hillyard, Prince Arron, Neil Sinclair and Bradley Pryce as possible opponents in the semis and final.

Danny (left, c L Lustig) is looking for a return to winning ways since his last outings in November 2009 proved to be a trying time with two losses in two weeks. First up was a one point defeat to Darren McDermott for the English middleweight title and then came a great (and late) opportunity last time out against Darren Barker.

Butler stepped in at two days notice after Wayne Elcock withdrew through illness with the British and Commonwealth middleweight titles at stake.

Barker proved to be a bit too soon and a bit too much for the Bristol man with referee Richie Davies waving it off at the end of the seventh round.

Danny at only 22 years old though is not disheartened. “I done myself proud but Barker was a class above, I learned a lot.”

One could be concerned that he didn’t specify what those lessons were when I probed him further but time will tell and maybe that time will be this Friday.

Butler now 18-3 had a nice rest after those two close dated fights but remained disciplined, by not allowing his weight to go above 12st and has been training since January. He’s looking forward to his latest challenge and intends on going forward. “There is no backward step and I want to keep up the competiveness.”

He admits this could be a risk but hadn’t thought about it in that way after his manager Tex Woodward and promoter Jane Couch were approached but says he’s happy and trusts he is in good hands.

Outside the ring Danny lives with his parents in hometown Bristol. He enjoys socialising with friends and told me the blockbuster film Avatar is really good. Hip hop and R’N B music play a big part in his interests with the excitement raised on his ring walks. “My mates love it when I come out to music.”

Even though Prizefighter is in a lower weight division Butler sees no problems as he will only have to weigh two lbs less than the 11st 4lbs for the Barker bout and let’s not forget Danny was campaigning as a light-middleweight up to February 2008.

This will be his second attempt at landing the Prizefighter trophy and a cheque for £32,000 after failing at the semi-final stage of the middleweights against Martin Murray in November 2008. (Murray is still undefeated in 18.)

Danny has been preparing with regular twice a day two hour training sessions of sparring, pads, circuits, sprints and punching with weights, and still has high hopes of at least becoming a British champion and then he will set his sights on the world title.

For now he is confident of winning the Prizefighter and says he would be backing himself if he was a betting man.

Butler is a charming level headed guy willing to answer questions without any hidden agendas and seems to be enjoying the ride. He has a big heart and it’s obvious an obstacle holds no barriers for him.

Winning this tournament won’t be a walk in the park but bears testimony to his attitude of climbing the highest mountains as opposed to easy win after easy win and a realisation that several defeats needn’t be the end of your career. (I wish some other fighters would follow suit.)

On the other hand some may say this is bad management and a recipe for a quick end to fighting at the top.

Whatever happens, once again Danny will have an opportunity to enter the ring with some top men standing, waiting but ready.

If only boxing could be like this a little more often!