Danny Butler is convinced youth will prevail over experience when he meets Welsh veteran Paul Samuels for the vacant British Masters middleweight title at the Newport Leisure Centre tonight.

The Bristolian boasts a previous victory over 35-year-old Samuels, having out-pointed him in a frenetic Prizefighters Series quarter-final at the York Hall, in Bethnal Green, last November.

This renewal of hostilities is scheduled for the 10-round championship distance, giving renowned puncher Samuels more time to catch up with and impose himself on his 21-year-old opponent.

But Butler is adamant his superior fitness and speed will enable him to remain one step ahead of an ageing fighter, whose career highlight came when he challenged Wayne Alexander for the British light middleweight crown in June 2000.

"I reckon I'll be too young and too quick for him," declared Butler, whose one defeat in an otherwise unblemished 18-fight record came against eventual Prizefighters winner Martin Murray.

"I've trained really hard for this fight and I'm feeling on top of the world. I'll use my footwork to get in and score and then get out again.

"Samuels almost certainly punches harder than anyone I've been in with before and I'm going to have to be on my toes to stay out of trouble.

"He's more experienced than me, but I've done 10 rounds quite a few times now and I'm sure I can pace myself and keep something in the tank for the later stages."

Although Samuels, who twice challenged for the IBO international title, is coming towards the end of his career, he represents a worthwhile scalp, and victory in his 19th paid outing would propel Butler to the next level.

He argued: "I need this fight. I've served my apprenticeship and now I want to be moving towards a British title fight.

"Samuels has been in with some of the best middleweights around and a win over him would look good on my CV."

Providing he comes through tonight's Welsh encounter unscathed, Butler is booked to meet Darren McDermott for the vacant English middleweight crown on Ricky Hatton's first Sky TV show at the Manchester Velodrome on September 25.

He said: "I'm looking to move on to bigger and better things and beating Samuels can open doors for me.

"I'm taking it one fight at a time, and there's no point thinking about Manchester until I've got past Samuels."