Quebec’s Steven Butler will have a chance to get his hands on the WBO middleweight world champion belt as he has a May 13 appointment with his current owner, Kazakh Janibek Alimkhanuly.
The clash between the two pugilists is presented at the Stockton Arena in California. The event is presented by Top Rank in cooperation with EOTTM and will be broadcast live on the American channel ESPN.
“I’m very proud of the character Steven has shown to return to the top,” EOTTM President Camille Estephan said in a statement Wednesday. We don’t let our chance pass us by. We will create the surprise on May 13th”.
“No detail is overlooked in this training camp. Expect a big shock on May 13th. I am confident that I will bring the belt back to Quebec,” said Butler.
This is the second time Butler (32-3-1, 26 KOs) has had an opportunity to get his hands on a world championship belt. In December 2019, he lost to Ryota Murata in a duel for the WBA title in Japan.
The Montreal native has won his last four games and has two wins before the limit. He is currently sixth in the WBO rankings in his weight class and holds the NABF middleweight belt, a minor title.
For his part, Alimkhanuly (13-0-0, 8 KOs) will defend his title against Butler for the second time.
“All the middleweights were scared so I give Steven Butler credit for taking the fight,” said the 29-year-old boxer. I want to unify the department, but I can’t neglect Butler. He’s a tough and strong opponent and I look forward to putting on an exceptional show for Stockton fans and ESPN viewers.”