Butler's chasing title fight
Currently ranked No 10 in the domestic ratings, Butler challenges Darren McDermott for the English 11st 6Ib championship at Fenton Manor Sports Complex, in Stoke-on-Trent, on Ricky Hatton's latest Sky TV promotion on Friday, November 13.
Dudley-based McDermott is ranked sixth in Britain and victory would move Butler a step nearer a shot at Lonsdale Belt holder Matthew Macklin.
"This is a great chance for Danny to move up to the next level," said manager Tex Woodward.
"Beating McDermott could take him from being a good fighter to one of the top middleweights in the country."
Defeated just once in 19 fights – a controversial split decision against Martin Murray in the Prizefighter Series in November last year – 21-year-old Butler must see off the more experienced McDermott if he is to keep alive his dream of challenging for the British title.
Woodward, who trains Butler at the Spaniorum Farm gym, near Bristol, believes his man's youth and energy will prevail in the Potteries next month.
He said: "McDermott is a step up in class for Danny, but I believe he has what it takes to win this fight.
"Danny is 10 years younger, has age on his side and will be too fit for his opponent. I'm confident he can set a tremendous pace and sustain it for the entire 10-round distance if he has to.
"We've been working hard in the gym to eliminate any basic mistakes and, if he can minimise those, I can see Danny going on to win. If we can get him to punch a bit harder, he could even win inside the distance."
Victorious in 14 of his first 15 paid outings, McDermott has fallen short whenever matched against top-class opposition. Stopped inside two rounds by Wayne Elcock in an unsuccessful tilt at the British middleweight title in June 2008, McDermott suffered a similarly decisive defeat when losing to Commonwealth champion Darren Barker in May.
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