‘Every shot Paul throws is delivered with bad intentions. He’s dedicated, he wants it and I know he will win a world title’ – Frank Warren

PAUL Butler has been likened to British boxing legends Naseem Hamed and Ricky Hatton – and is being hotly tipped to follow in their footsteps by becoming a world champion.

The super-flyweight star could even find himself appearing on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao’s massive fight against Brandon Rios in Macau on November 23, if his fine form continues over the next few months.

Butler, 24, of Great Sutton, is unbeaten in 11 fights since he turned professional and signed for promoter Frank Warren, who has been hugely impressed by the former Vauxhall Motors ABC amateur.

Warren staged some of Hatton and Hamed’s biggest fight nights and gets the same buzz he felt in those days when he sees Butler – already the British and Commonwealth champion – in action.

The promoter said: “Paul looks like a choirboy, but there certain fighters like Ricky and Naz who just like to be in the hurt business, and Paul is the same.

“Every shot he throws is delivered with bad intentions. He’s dedicated, he wants it and I know he will win a world title. I rate him and he has really impressed me in his performances.”

Warren would like to see Butler box on the massive Top Rank card in November when Pacquiao boxes Rios. Also on the bill will be China’s triple world amateur champion and double Olympic gold medallist Zou Shiming, who Butler could meet in a super-fight next year.

Butler challenges for the vacant WBO intercontinental title at Wembley Arena on June 15, with his opponent due to be named soon.

Warren said: “If Paul wins another title next month he will have a defence in September and then I hope he will fight on the undercard of the Macau bill.

“I've been talking to (Top Rank promoter) Bob Arum and hopefully that is going to happen so Paul has got a lot to aim for.

“If we can get the fight in Macau the aim is to fight Zou Shiming at catchweight down the line.”

Unbeaten Butler puts much of his success down to the one-to-one coaching he gets with his trainer Anthony ‘Arnie’ Farnell.

He said: “Anthony has been written off in the past when Tony Bellew and Frankie Gavin left him, but they both left undefeated. Arnie is always studying boxers, has new ideas and I have improved under him.”

Tickets for the June 15 show, which also features Dereck Chisora, Frank Gavin and Paul Smith , are £40, £50, £70, £100 and £150. They are available from Eventim on 0844 249 1000 or www.eventim.co.uk and Wembley Arena on 0844 815 0815.