PAUL Butler stands on the brink of the ultimate accolade after reaching the ABA finals – but clubmate Wayne Adeniyi’s future is uncertain after he missed his big shot.
The Vauxhall Motors ABC duo endured mixed fortunes in the semi-finals of the Amateur Boxing Association of England’s Elite National Championships in the East Midlands on Sunday night.
Flyweight Butler, who has returned to his best form this season after a brief break from the sport, faced Jason Cunningham from Doncaster Plant ABC in his bout at Retford Town Hall.
The gangly Yorkshireman measures 5ft 11ins and last year made the ABA final at bantamweight level. Despite the drop down, however, he had nothing in his arsenal to worry Butler as the Great Sutton fighter won by a country mile, 25-5 on points.
“It is great for Paul to make the final but we are really disappointed that Wayne couldn’t join him,” said Vauxhall Motors ABC secretary John Smurthwaite.
“Paul has a great chance to become ABA champion and achieve what he wants to, but for the club, if Wayne had managed it as well, we could have had two champions in one season, which would have been incredible.”
Adeniyi threw away a lead in the third round of his contest in Retford to crash out of the competition.
The number-two ranked cruiserweight in the British standings faced Corby ABC’s Simon Barclay, who he had beaten earlier in the season.
Over two rounds Adeniyi turned a 4-2 lead into a 9-7 advantage, and at that stage looked odds-on to give Motors two ABA finalists.
But over-confidence and a lack of discipline cost Adeniyi dear as he ultimately went down 13-10 on points.
The ABA finals take place in London on Friday, May 14.
