Paul Butler is ready to begin a ‘new chapter’ in his career after parting company with long-time trainer Anthony ‘Arnie’ Farnell.

Failsworth-based Farnell has been in Butler’s corner since the former Vauxhall Motors ABC amateur turned professional in 2010 and the pair have achieved massive success, culminating in Butler becoming the IBF World bantamweight champion.

But the 27-year-old from Great Sutton believes the time has now come to go down a different path although insisted there was not a drop of bad blood between him and Farnell.

Butler said: "I’ve been with Arnie for five-and-a-half years. For me I think it’s the right time to make a change.

"It’s nothing to do with Arnie - I love the man to bits - or anyone in the gym, I just need something new. I can’t thank Arnie enough for the work we’ve done together. We’ve won eight titles together and reached the top winning a world title.

"It’s just time for a new chapter. This has been so hard for me but this is what happens in boxing. It’s life, I suppose."

Butler made his professional debut in December 2010, beating Anwar Alfadli in Liverpool and racked up another seven wins in quick succession before claiming the British super-flyweight title in his ninth contest with a stoppage victory over John Donnelly.

Paul Butler after defeating Stuart Hall to become a world champion
Paul Butler after defeating Stuart Hall to become a world champion

Further belts followed as Butler became Commonwealth super-flyweight champion and won both the WBO and WBA Intercontinental titles before the ‘Baby Faced Assassin’ achieved his dream of winning a world title when he moved up a weight to defeat Darlington’s Stuart Hall in June 2014.

In pictures: Paul Butler's boxing career to date

Butler vacated that strap in a bid to become the first British boxer to win a second world title at a lower weight in over a century but South Africa’s Zolani Tete knocked him out, ending his unbeaten record and claiming the IBF World super-flyweight belt .

Farnell has guided Butler to four straight wins since that defeat, picking up the WBO European and International super-flyweight titles in the process, but the pair’s long and successful partnership has now ended.

"I’d like to thank Arnie for everything he’s done over the last five-and-a-half years," said Butler.

"We’ve had a great career together with some huge highs and I’d advise anyone to go there as it’s a top gym with top lads. I’ll miss all the gym lads. I love them all and I’ll still be supporting them at shows and wishing them all the best."