Paul Butler has warned Jamie Conlan to be careful what he wishes for with the pair engaged in a war of words ahead of a potential showdown.
Butler and Conlan will come face-to-face next month when the Ellesmere Port star commentates from ringside on the unbeaten Irishman’s second defence of his WBO Intercontinental crown in Dublin.
The super-flyweights are on a collision course for 2016 but former IBF World bantamweight champion Butler believes he is a cut above the Belfast man and was far from impressed with Conlan’s last performance, coming off the canvas to beat Junior Granados on points.
"Personally I think Conlan’s a good kid, but he’s not good enough to beat me," said Butler, who destroyed Hector Rolando Gusma inside a round earlier this month and makes his next appearance on December 19 at the Manchester Arena.
"He’s got plenty of heart and I respect that, but against me he’d have to show a lot more than just grit.
"I’m confident that I’d beat him, whether he stood in front of me, if I took it to him, or if I boxed him, I know I’d come out the winner.
"There’s not any department that he could beat me from what I’ve seen. If that Mexican kid Granados pushed him back what’s he going to do against the likes of me? I’m bigger and stronger and I’d do what I want to him.
"With that said, I know he would raise his against me if we met. It’s a fight that has got the man on the street talking and then you know it’s a big fight.
"I’m looking forward to seeing him up close on the November 7 in Dublin. I hope he shows me something more that what I’ve seen of him."
However, Conlan reckons he has Butler’s number and could stop him even earlier than Zolani Tete, who inflicted a first career defeat on the 26-year-old in March when his challenge for the IBF World super-flyweight title ended with him being knocked out .
Conlan said: "Butler’s is a world level fight so I want his name on my record. He’s done it at bantamweight, but was exposed at super-fly against Tete, I feel that I have his number and would expose him. He’s show more weaknesses in the fights that he’s won than he’s lost.
"I get asked everyday ‘When are you going to knockout him out?’. I believe that the fight has got to happen soon. I want it, he wants it, the fans and press want it, so bring it on."
