BoxRec

Connor Butler vs Matt Windle Commonwealth and European flyweight title clash will be broadcast live and free

Fight fans get a double dose of title action on June 9th with major belts on the line at Liverpool’s Olympia, and with all the action broadcast LIVE AND FREE ON FIGHTZONE, and on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport app and website.

Headlining on the night will be local man Connor Butler defending his Commonwealth Flyweight crown against Matt Windle, with the vacant European Title also up for grabs.

Chief support slot is an all-Liverpudlian affair with Ryan Farrag and Marcel Braithwaite battling for local bragging rights as well as the vacant Commonwealth Super Flyweight Title.

Undefeated in 11, with one draw, and on home turf – Butler will head into this huge night of boxing as slight favourite. The 25-year-old is rated by fight insiders as a prospect who could go all the way, and he showed his quality last time out in February when he negotiated the challenge of tough Yorkshireman Craig Derbyshire to win the Commonwealth belt he’ll be defending.

Windle will be another extremely tough fight for ‘Top Dog’ Butler. The battling Brummie, 32, is always in an exciting scrap, often in fight-of-the-year contenders, and in the form of his life. With just four defeats from 12 bouts – which includes two contentious reverses for the Midlands Flyweight belt in 2019 – the ‘MatMan’ stopped South African Siphelele Myeza in his last fight in October 2022 to claim the Commonwealth Light Flyweight belt and won’t be daunted fighting away-from-home.

Ryan Farrag is one of those fighters that seem to have been around forever! Making his pro debut way back in 2010, the 35-year-old has plenty of experience and believes he still has more to achieve in the fight game. A former English and European bantamweight champion, Ryan has won 21 of 25 contests and been in with some of the UK’s best little men – including losses to former world bantamweight champ Ryan Burnett and current world flyweight king Sunny Edwards. If he is to move onto bigger things then he must come out on top against fellow Scouser Braithwaite.

Marcel ‘The Chosen One’ Braithwaite will be getting a second bite of the cherry when he competes for the Commonwealth Super Flyweight Title, having faced Ijaz Ahmed in March for the same belt – when a split decision draw meant neither man could take home the vacant crown. The 29-year-old has also previously been in with quality opposition – albeit on the losing end of decisions – including against Sunny Edwards, and the recently newly-crowned British Flyweight Champion, Jay Harris. Similar to Farrag, Marcel won’t have many options left if he comes up second-best at the Olympia, which guarantees an exciting fight for Fightzone and BBC viewers.

“These are two fantastic fights,” said Fight Academy boss, Dennis Hobson. “We really rate Connor, but Matt is a tough test for anyone and is on a real roll, it’ll be interesting to see how this one goes. And with the European Title at stake too, it’s going to be a barnstormer.

“Whenever you get two local fighters matched together, you can expect fireworks and Farrag versus Braithwaite will be no exception. The Commonwealth belt is a really meaningful title that can open all sorts of doors, so I’m expecting another proper tough battle, and an exciting fight for the viewers.”

They’ve got the Leeds show on tonight as well, Fightzone. I’m paying £60 for the ‘privilege’ of going…

mickey1975 wrote: ↑26 May 2023, 11:25 They’ve got the Leeds show on tonight as well, Fightzone. I’m paying £60 for the ‘privilege’ of going…

That’s some privilege. 3 course meal?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑26 May 2023, 12:22

mickey1975 wrote: ↑26 May 2023, 11:25 They’ve got the Leeds show on tonight as well, Fightzone. I’m paying £60 for the ‘privilege’ of going…

That’s some privilege. 3 course meal?

No. That’s £100.

Fight Week!!

19:20 tonight on BBC iPlayer, reckon I'll watch this and tape the Adeleye card

Good thing this iPlayer business.

Have a feeling Farrag/Braithwaite might be coming up, that's what Fightzones tweet suggested

Yep it is

handsofstone wrote: ↑09 Jun 2023, 14:57 Yep it is

Who won?

Going into 11th now, anybody's fight

I thought Braithwaite won that by a good few rounds. Was close at times though, scorecards unanimous 115-114 across the board.

Braithwaite wins a UD, 115-114 across the board, had Farrag winning 115-113 but nearly every round was close and hard fought, Farrag started quicker, busier, getting up close, Braithwaite came into things boxing Farrag, hands low picking him off, quite awkward and picked his shots well but then Farrag would come back into things, putting the combinations together, had success with the right uppercut, that was his best punch, Braithwaite's best shot was his left hook , both not noted punchers but they didn't lack aggression, some good exchanges, as I said hard fought from both men, thought Farrag nicked it but no complaints, Braithwaite deserves success , he's had 2 British title shots and this was his second Commonwealth title fight in a row, I thought he beat Ahmed for the British and Commonwealth titles last time so you can't begrudge him

ShadrachSimmo wrote: ↑09 Jun 2023, 16:16 I thought Braithwaite won that by a good few rounds. Was close at times though, scorecards unanimous 115-114 across the board.

Had Farrag edging it but knew it was a toss up

Main event coming up

2 rounds in and Butler is looking excellent it's gotta be said

Butler wins a wide UD, had it 118-109 as did one of the judges, think the other scores were 117-110 and 115-112 which was far too close, it was one of those entertaining one sided fights, there's a lot to like about Butler, he has a few tools in his box, quick, footwork, counter punching, attacking, variety, accuracy, good engine, good boxing IQ, the one glaring omission is power, not a puncher but has an eye catching style, he hurt Windle a few times, his combinations and accuracy are on point, Windle was hanging on like a muthafvcka in the 8th after getting opened up


Butler got a point off in the 9th for holding which looked harsh even though he was warned, he finished well though, Windle's gutsy effort made it a prettying entertaining fight, never stopped trying to win but was outclassed by a very tidy boxer

European and Commonwealth champ now Butler, interested to see where he goes now, a ballhair away from a world title shot

handsofstone wrote: ↑09 Jun 2023, 16:21

ShadrachSimmo wrote: ↑09 Jun 2023, 16:16 I thought Braithwaite won that by a good few rounds. Was close at times though, scorecards unanimous 115-114 across the board.

Had Farrag edging it but knew it was a toss up