Bellew vs Haye 2: Paul Butler fails to make bantamweight limit for Emmanuel Rodriguez title fight
Friday 4 May 2018 17:23, UK
Paul Butler cannot regain the IBF title after failing to make weight for his bantamweight fight with Emmanuel Rodriguez.
Butler was over the 8st 6lbs limit as he weighed in for the vacant IBF title fight, but Rodriguez was inside at 8st 5lbs 7oz and can only win the belt as Saturday's bout still goes ahead on the Bellew-Haye bill at The O2, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The 'Baby Faced Assassin' decided not to return to the scales, despite being offered two hours to lose the excess weight, and missed his chance to reclaim the IBF belt, which was vacated by Belfast's Ryan Burnett.
Butler had a short reign as IBF bantamweight champion after defeating Stuart Hall on points in 2014.
The cross-road clash between London's John Ryder and Swindon's Jamie Cox will now be the chief support before the huge heavyweight rematch between Bellew and Haye, in front of a sold-out crowd.
The pair were both inside the super-middleweight limit, with Cox weighing 11st 13lbs and Ryder coming in at 11st 12lbs 2oz.
