After only ten fights flyweight Iain Butcher is a European Champion, the only Scot bar Ricky Burns with a top 15 world ranking and getting ready for a second British title shot.
The 21-year old hopes to be challenging for a world title next year but first has to get revenge over Kevin Satchell. Butcher’s only defeat was a narrow points loss against the British and Commonwealth champion in Liverpool last July.
The Motherwell fighter believes he was the victim of a hometown decision and the British Boxing Board of Control have made him mandatory challenger for Satchell’s next defence in May.
The fight has been put out to purse bids and Butcher hopes he’ll be able to get enough money to bring it to Scotland.
He said: “I’d be willing to go down for the rematch but this time we’ve got a chance of getting it here so it would be nice to do that for the fans. I’ve got some loyal people and my great sponsors CMC Mot Service Station, RBE Fightwear and Physique Nutrition would be willing to help out.
“After my next fight we’ll see how much we can put up. There’s a good chance we’ll get it here but I wouldn’t mind going down for the rematch. There was 9,000 in the Echo Arena last time which was the biggest crowd I’d boxed in front of so I wouldn’t mind going back to the same place – it’s not something that scares me.
“I know I was the better boxer on the night and 90% of the public thought I won so I’m confident enough to fight him anywhere. That was my first 12 round fight and I maybe got my tactics a bit wrong but I think I could blow him away in six or eight rounds this time.”
Butcher believes Satchell may vacate his title to avoid the fight which would allow the Scotsman to face another contender for the belt.
The unbeaten Scouse fighter defends his Commonwealth title against experienced Ghanaian Isaac Quaye on 8 March and it’s likely he won’t make a decision on the British title until after the fight.
“I think there’s a very good chance of him vacating,” Butcher said. “We need to wait and see if he wins his next fight but he’s kind of been forced into the rematch in the public’s eye because the board have made me mandatory so for him to vacate would look like he’s running scared.
“I’d like to think he’ll fight me to try and put things straight after the controversial decision. He said if a mandatory challenger is put forward he’ll take the fight and it’s been made now so I think we should just get it on. It would sell well and it makes sense in business terms and it makes sense for us as we both thought we won the fight. This is his chance to prove he deserves to still be champion.”
Butcher revealed he has some extra motivation this time around with baby boy Aston coming recently which he says has completely changed his outlook on life. He desperately wants to win the Lonsdale belt outright so he can share it with his son.
“It’s absolutely brilliant being a dad,” he said. “It’s life-changing and everything I do now is for him. Business-wise and in general everything I do is for him. I want to be able to give him a better life than I had.
“Getting up for my morning running is much easier now and in training everything is a different mind-set. I love boxing but it’s even better now that everything I’m doing is for my boy who I’ve brought into this world.
“I would like a Lonsdale belt outright. It’s one of the nicest belts in boxing and it’s a thing I’ve always wanted to win since I was a kid. It’s every British boxer’s dream and I want to grab the opportunity with both hands. I’d love to be able to pass it on to my boy as a memory.
“If I win the British title I’d need to defend it three times before I could keep it outright so that would be a good learning curve for myself over the next year getting twelve round fights under my belt against quality opposition.”
He’s planning to get his three defences done in around nine months so he can focus on a world title shot in 2015.
“The fight would take place in May then I’m away on holiday with the family in June. After I come back I’d be looking to try and get the defences in by early 2015. I want to do it quickly because I think I’m at my best when I stay active
“I’m not ready for the world title shot at the moment as I need a bit more experience before I go into those levels of boxing. I’ve just come into twelve round boxing so I think another year and a half then I’ll start mixing with world champions.
“I’ve only had two title fights so I need to get four or six more twelve round fights to mature myself and build on my weaknesses. But I believe I can reach that level of world class boxing and I believe I could be mixing with these guys. 2014 will be a massive year for me but 2015 could be even bigger.”
Butcher has only fought one round since he lost to Satchell eight months ago. He scored a first round knockout against top Hungarian Gabor Molnar (then 13-3) in October to claim the WBO European Belt and a top 15 ranking with that organisation.
The Jerviston native’s next appearance is a six-round warm-up fight on 28 February against Bulgarian Valentin Marinov (5-7-1) on the undercard of Prospect Boxing’s show in Motherwell.
He admits it’s not quite the glamour of his two previous fights but Butcher knows he needs ring-time before his potential rematch with Satchell.
He said: “I’m excited as it’s always good to be back in front of the home crowd but I am looking at the bigger picture and the British title. I don’t want to look by this guy or anything as I’ve got to win.
“I’ve seen a clip and he’s wild and a tough boy so it won’t be a technical fight. I’m expecting it to go the distance but for me to be in control pretty much every round.
“We didn’t want a really competitive fight because the last two fights have been against top opposition. I haven’t got the rounds in since I boxed for the British title so I want get the ring rust off.”
Adam Henderson writes for www.adamhendersonjounalism.wordpress.com and can be found on Twitter @Adam426
