Paul Butler to return on June 16 in Uzbekistan

Disrupt Promotions are getting together with Lift Promotions to stage its inaugural show in Uzbekistan this month, with a card that includes Paul Butler, Joe McGrail, Steven Cairns and Yan Marcos.

Taking place at Tashkent’s Humo Arena, on Friday June 16, Butler (34-3, 15 knockouts), the two-time bantamweight world champion, returns following his knockout defeat to Japan’s Naoya Inoue last December.

Having launched earlier this year, Disrupt Promotions - which purchased the assets of the now defunct Probellum - is now getting underway with staging live events.

According to the promotional company, they are planning to stage several more events throughout the year.

“We are delighted to announce our first major event which features a host of exciting fighters at various stages of their careers. The fact we are staging the show in Uzbekistan, a country which is extremely passionate about boxing, simply adds to the excitement and anticipation," the company said in a statement.

“The card is packed with talent. Two-time world champion Paul Butler makes his eagerly awaited return to action while Joe McGrail, Steven Cairns and Yan Marcos, who are all yet to experience defeat, are three of the most exciting prospects currently competing in the sport. We look forward to welcoming fight fans in Uzbekistan to what we believe will be a fantastic show, with further high-profile events to follow between now and the end of the year.”

Also featuring on the card, Liverpool-born McGrail (7-0, 2 knockouts), 20, who will be looking to extend his unbeaten run when he takes on Nicaragua’s Joel Sanchez (5-36-1, 2 knockouts).

Joe is the younger brother of another prospect, Peter McGrail.

Irishman Cairns (5-0, 2 knockouts), 20, is back in action following his March victory over Poland’s Jakub Laskowski, which took place on the Lewis Ritson vs. Ohara Davies undercard in Newcastle. This time around, Cairns takes on Czech Republic’s Michal Dufek (35-27-2, 22 knockouts).

Elsewhere on the card, Cuba’s Marcos (9-0, 6 knockouts), 22, puts his unbeaten record on the line.

Marcos has fought twice already in 2023, recording unanimous points victories against British fighters Troy Coleman and Asinia Byfield, the most recent of those bouts taking place only last month.