Unbeaten flyweight prospect Connor Butler is working overtime during lockdown

Connor Butler discusses life during lockdown

22-year-old unbeaten flyweight from Liverpool, Connor Butler (4-0-1, 1KOs) , trained by Paul Stevenson at the Everton Red Triangle Gym, is a European bronze medalist, currently unbeaten in five professional fights.

While boxing is back on in the US, Britain remains in lockdown with the sport in a state of limbo still. Pro boxers worldwide have been keeping fit, ready and waiting for a return to the ring, and Connor Butler is no exception to this.

Known as the ‘Top Dog’, Butler revealed what he’s been up to during lockdown, “I’ve still been working, doing loads of overtime,” he said. “I’ve been doing extra hours on top of my normal hours, so just been smashing work really and I’ve only been getting one day off a week.”

Despite the extra time spent on his daytime job, Connor has also been training too, he continued to say, “I’ve been ticking over, been doing loads of running, been keeping in touch with Paul [Stevenson]. I managed to get a bit of training equipment, so I’ve been doing garden sessions; I got one of those ‘Bob’ bags, you know the ones in the shape of a dummy? I’ve been using that and it’s ok, it’s been a big help.

“I haven’t been training full out, just doing bits, staying ready and fit, lots of cardio, running, shadow boxing, so that when I get back to the gym then I’m straight into training.”

Butler is part of a successful setup in the Liverpool-based Everton Red Triangle Gym. Three of his stablemates have just signed contracts with Hall of Fame promoter Frank Warren, and he is part of a talented group of unbeaten professionals, all of whom he misses, he revealed, “I enjoy training anyway, but I miss the environment of the gym. When I wake up in the morning I like to think ‘Right, I’m going to the gym today’, and have something there to go for, but I still do it at home, I get up and do my weights in the garden, it’s not in the right environment, but you got a job to do so you just get on and do it, but it just feels strange. The hardest part is not having the lads around me, it feels weird.”

Butler is one of very few British boxers to have fought already this year, when he defeated English title contender Brett ‘The Threat’ Fidoe on points on February 28 at the Grand Central Hall in Liverpool.

Despite the impressive win, where he showed a maturity and class beyond his years to defeat what was arguably the strongest opponent occupying the away corner on the night, the time missed during the pandemic has been difficult to endure he confessed, “It’s a little bit frustrating because I boxed Brett Fidoe and I won comfortably on points, and that was sort of the start of it for me – the momentum going for a great year.

“The venues and dates were all sorted – our gym is probably the only stable that organises their dates for the whole year ahead – so I feel like I have missed out on three or four fights. It’s frustrating for me, but I can just imagine the people that had fights ready but were cancelled.”

He elaborated on his gym’s unique setup with Black Flash Promotions where their events are organised for the entire year in advance so every fighter knows exactly what they’re doing and when, and can plan their lives accordingly.

“We’re a very lucky bunch, we get our fight dates for the entire year and I don’t think there’s any other stable in the world that does that, it’s just a shame we can’t get those dates in anymore.

“Sometimes people don’t know when their next fight is, whereas we do, so we’re lucky. We want to get as many fights in as possible, but knowing we were going to have five fights this year and now we don’t know when our next fight even is, well that’s hard to take, but just got to stay fit and ready for when it’s back again.”

Top Rank have already staged two events behind closed doors in Las Vegas, and UK promoters are planning the same, with Eddie Hearn debating on staging events in the Matchroom HQ gardens, but not every fighter has shown their keenness to participate in contests without a live audience, such as Amir Khan and Conor Benn.

However, Butler was very swift to state his stance on the subject, “I’ll fight anyone anywhere – behind closed doors makes no difference to me!

“I’ve boxed in Russia in prelims where there’s no one even there. When you’re in the ring, you’re focused on the job in hand, my ears only listen out for Paul [Stevenson] anyway.

“The only time I acknowledge the crowd is during the walk to the ring and after the fight. I only hear Paul or the ref, and even then I don’t hear the ref! He has to slap me on the back or pull my arm away to get my attention!

“I only select my hearing to listen Paul’s voice. You do hear other people obviously, you’re not human if you don’t, it’s whether you pay attention to it or not, but I’m half deaf anyway!”

Butler concluded with his revised plans for the rest of 2020, “If I could have my way, it’d be to have as many fights as possible before the end of the year. But you can’t have it all your own way, so I’m happy just to get back in the gym and get back training as normal. I just want to get into a routine again.

“I’ll just have to take it one fight at a time, but I’d like at least one fight before the end of the year and I’ll be happy. My weight’s not bad, so I’m ready to go, just give me four weeks notice!”

Everton Red Triangle Gym, in association with Black Flash Promotions, plan their entire year’s events ahead. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic and subsequent ban on all boxing events under the jurisdiction of the BBBofC, May and July’s events were cancelled and the remaining planned dates are September 5 and November 14.

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