Butlin plans to test Joshua's jaw on Saturday

[boxrec]

http://static.boxrec.com/wiki/1/13/Paulbutlin.jpgMelton's Paul Butlin has told Anthony Joshua MBE that he’s going to take the fight to him on Saturday when the pair clash at Motorpoint Arena in Sheffield.

Joshua dismissed Emanuele Leo in the first round of his debut at The O2 earlier in the month, and now faces the experienced Leicestershire fighter before going on to headline ‘Joshua and The Prizefighters’ at the York Hall on Thursday November 14. He expects a tough test in Sheffield against Butlin.

“The quality of opposition will get better and that is good, because it means I will need to get better,” said Joshua. “I can only defeat what is in front of me, so whoever it is I have to do my best. In this game I want to keep on learning in the gym and take that into the ring, give it my best and hopefully dispatch my opponents."

Butlin takes plenty of experience into Saturday’s clash, with 167 rounds boxed in his 33 pro fights. The 37 year old says he’ll take the fight to Joshua from the opening bell – and expects to test the Londoners’ resolve.

“I will bring non-stop aggression,” said Butlin. “It is common sense, I can’t keep it long. I am going to have to put it on him from round one. If I don’t, he will stop me. The reach on him, the speed of him, the power of him, if I don’t put it on him then I will get stopped.

“You can’t change your jaw – you could have the best body in the world but it doesn’t make you the best boxer, it doesn’t mean you have a good jaw. On Saturday that is what I am going to do – test his jaw.

“Anthony is a nice kid, a gold medallist as well, so it will be an honour to share the ring with him.

“He is good, he is sharp, but it is the start of his professional career so there are weaknesses I noticed on his debut.

“With some opponents you can get angry off with them, but he is such a nice lad. I think it will be a good fight. We will shake hands at the end and be alright with each other. We are both there for business, and that is what will happen.

“I think it is madness him facing somebody like me in his second pro fight. On the other side, I think Eddie Hearn is making a statement and being a Gold medalist you should be able to make those statements. You are the best in the world as an amateur, and turning pro you should still have that pedigree.”

Joshua’s fight with Butlin is part of a great line-up of action in Sheffield, as unbeaten welterweight Kell Brook faces a watershed night in his career against former World champion Vyacheslav Senchenko.

Blackpool's Brian Rose faces Javier Maciel in a final eliminator for the WBO light middleweight title while rising Liverpool super middleweight Callum Smith meets Ruben Acosta for the vacant WBC International title. Kal Yafai, Adam Etches, Scott Jenkins and Sam O’Maison also feature.

Tickets are on sale now priced £30, £40, £60 and £100 through the Motorpoint Arena – www.motorpointarenasheffield.co.uk – and on 0114 2565656.

VIP packages priced £200 are available exclusively through Matchroom Boxing – www.matchroomboxing.com – or call 01277 359900.

 

 

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