PAUL Butler has been reliving the devastating punch which landed him the first Lonsdale belt of his career.
The Chester-born boxer took just 69 seconds to dispatch John Donnelly at the Liverpool Olympia on Friday and secure the vacant British super-flyweight title.
Butler, who celebrated his 24th birthday on Sunday, floored his opponent with a bone-shaking shot to the ribs which saw Donnelly hit the canvas and fail to beat referee Steve Gray’s count.
He said: “He was never getting up. It was that type of shot – a sickener. It went in one side of his body and came out the other.
“He took a step back first to the ropes. I thought ‘he’s hurt’ but I didn’t think he was going to go down so I moved into finish him, but he dropped anyway.
“When he dropped, the ref got to about four. He went on his back then and I knew he wasn’t getting up.”
Butler, a graduate of the Vauxhall Motors ABC gym (now Wirral Community Police ABC) and a former ABA champion, has a 9-0 record since turning pro.
The Great Sutton resident plans to take a two-week break from the gym before returning to the ring for the first defence of his British title in January or February. Merseysider Mike Robinson has been touted as a possible opponent.
The Commonwealth super-flyweight title is vacant and also on Butler’s radar for 2013.
His night at the Olympia was made even sweeter because his friend and training partner – Matty Fagan – made his pro debut and enjoyed a points win against a game Francis Maina over four rounds.
Butler and Fagan, 24, both train at Arnie’s Gym in Manchester.
