PAUL Butler’s British title fight has been given the green light – meaning he will end the year with a blockbusting derby bout against Liverpool’s John Donnelly.

Butler, 23, of Great Sutton, will contest the vacant British super-flyweight belt when he faces Donnelly, 28, at the Liverpool Olympia on Friday, November 9.

The fight, which has been pencilled in for some time, was officially ratified by the British Boxing Board of Control at the end of last week.

Undefeated Butler (8-0-0) is already in training for what will be the biggest bout of his burgeoning professional career.

The Olympia is likely to be packed to the rafters with boxing fans from both sides of the River Mersey.

Butler’s dad, Paul Butler Senior, said: “It’s a good fight and it will be a massive night. It’s Wirral versus Liverpool. This side of the water versus that side of the water. Paul’s ready for it.”

Butler – nicknamed ‘The Baby-Faced Assassin’ – began his career as an amateur with Vauxhall Motors ABC. He turned pro soon after becoming an ABA champion in 2010, signing for Frank Warren Promotions.

He now trains at the Manchester gym run by former WBU middleweight champion Anthony Farnell and has sparred in the past with Donnelly, the English super-flyweight champion.

Butler has been waiting for a shot at the British title since his explosive victory over Ashley Sexton in London in July.

He lacks Donnelly’s (13-2-0) experience and the Liverpool man, managed by former Chester City FC owner Stephen Vaughan, reckons their meeting will be a ‘50-50’ fight.

But Butler Snr said: “Paul probably won’t start as the favourite because Donnelly has had more fights and he’s the English champion. But in our eyes, he’s not the favourite. Paul is.”

He added: “The ambition for Paul was always for him to do it the right way – British, Commonwealth, then European.

“This will be the first step towards what we wanted.”

Also on the bill on November 9 will be Matty Fagan who, like Butler, is a product of the Vauxhall gym (now known as Wirral Community Police ABC).

The 23-year-old has recently left the amateur ranks and signed as a professional with Warren Promotions.

His opponent will be decided closer to the day of his fight.

Butler v Donnelly will be shown live on the fight-dedicated subscription channel BoxNation.