Paul Butler is excited for what 2015 holds after reflecting on the ‘highs and lows’ of the past 12 months.

Butler had three fights in 2014, moving up to bantamweight and then realising his world title dream, before his plans to become a two-weight world champion were put on hold when Zolani Tete broke his left hand.

Butler said preparing to face Tete’s late replacement Ismael Garnica as Stuart Hall, the man he beat in June to become a world champion, and Randy Caballero fought for the IBF world bantamweight belt the Ellesmere Port fighter had vacated, had tested his resolve.

But with Tete and his IBF world super flyweight title back on the table for March and then the prospect of a unification fight with WBO world champion Omar Andres Narvaez, the 26-year-old has plenty to look forward to.

Butler said: “I have had highs and lows over the past year. The start of the year was a massive high with the move up to bantamweight, winning my first fight and then getting the Stuart Hall fight, which was a dream come true.

“Then I had the disappointment towards the end of the year with Tete pulling out.

“It was probably the hardest thing I have been through having to watch Stuey Hall and Randy Caballero fighting for the world title I had given up half an hour before I was supposed to be fighting Tete for a world title.

“I was ready for him in October, feeling the best I have ever felt, and the weight was coming down perfectly.”

Promoter Frank Warren hopes to confirm a date for the Tete fight soon and Butler knows the South African knock-out specialist will be a huge test.

If he can beat the 26-year-old Eastern Cape native, Butler wants Narvaez next and believes Warren has the clout to bring the unification fight to Liverpool.

“We’re looking at the first couple of weeks in March for Tete,” said Butler. “Tete’s not a world champion for nothing. He’s a class fighter and well schooled boxer who does everything well.

“He’s the kind of fighter no-one wants: a tall, long southpaw who can punch. He’s had 16 stoppages from 19.

“He does not come to mess around, he comes to put you down but I think that suits me. He comes to fight and I come to fight, so people will see a different side to me. I will be pressing on him, sitting on his chest and banging away at his body in the same way Ricky Hatton used to.

“People sometimes look down at the lower weights but there are some massive fights out there, if I can beat Tete.

“I don’t have to take Tete now because I’m the mandatory for Narvaez and he’s got to fight me inside six months, but I can make that fight into a huge one.

“If I beat Tete then I’ve got the IBF and he’s got the WBO and it’s a unification fight that would go to purse bids, I’ve got confidence in Frank Warren being able to bring it to the ECHO Arena.

“Narvaez hasn’t lost in 40-odd fights at super fly. It would be a massive fight. But if you want to be the best, you’ve got to fight the best.”