Paul Butler schools Jonas Sultan to claim interim title

Paul Butler outboxed Jonas Sultan to claim the interim WBO bantamweight title via unanimous decision Friday in Liverpool.

The judges scored the bout 116-112, 117-111, and 118-110, all for Butler, who picked up his eighth consecutive win following an unsuccessful attempt to win a 118-pound title against Emmanuel Rodriguez in May 2018.

Sultan had stepped in on short notice for countryman, John Riel Casimero, who was removed from the card after he revealed himself on social media using a sauna as he struggled once again to make the 118-pound limit. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) has a strict zero-tolerance policy regarding the use of saunas to lose weight before a fight.

It was the second time in the past four months that Casimero (31-4, 21 KOs) was forced out of a planned title defense against Butler. As a result, the troubled boxer received a second Show Cause letter from the WBO to avoid being stripped of the title.

The 33-year-old was originally tabbed to face Butler in a December 11 main event in Dubai. However, Casimero withdrew after he was unable to make it to the weigh-in after being hospitalized due to gastritis. Sufficient medical records were provided to the WBO, which allowed Casimero to retain the 118-pound title he has held since November 2019 when he knocked out Zolani Tete in Birmingham, England. His title reign has been largely a disappointment, with just two defenses and four canceled bouts, including two with Butler.

The WBO previously warned Casimero they would strip him if he withdrew from another fight. Butler certainly hopes they keep their word and elevate him to world champion.

“It’s been a long journey,” Butler said. “Dubai didn’t happen, Casimero didn’t happen again tonight but we had Sultan and for me he was a better opponent because he had beaten Casimero. We had 48 hours to make a gameplan and that is what I can do in 48 hours.

“I had to stay switched on, but now and again I wanted to stand there just to let him know he couldn’t just push me around. But you win the easy way and the easy way for me tonight was moving my feet, making him miss and making him pay.”

Butler controlled the opening two frames with all-around boxing skill, but Sultan tried to drag him into a dog fight in round three.

Butler returned to form and albeit he was drilled by a hard right hand in the sixth round, Sultan was unable to capitalize.

Sultan finally dragged Butler into the lion's den in round nine, but once again, Butler slipped out of danger. In round 11, Sultan was desperately looking to land the KO and ran himself out of gas, which allowed Butler to stand and trade with Sultan and outclass him at his own game.