IBF Bantamweight title: Paul Butler beats Stuey Hall via majority decision to clinch belt
Sunday 8 June 2014 07:45, UK
Paul Butler has been crowned the new IBF bantamweight world champion after dethroning Stuart Hall on points in a thrilling all-British title fight on Saturday night.
Fighting at the 118lb limit for just the second time, Butler extended his unbeaten record to 16 fights after prevailing via a split decision 115-113, 117-111, 113-115 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.
Hall had originally claimed the title by defeating South African Vusi Malinga late last year and then went on to successfully defend it against Martin Ward, with that bout ended early by a clash of heads.
Butler had opted to step up in weight having previously won the British and Commonwealth titles at super-flyweight.
On the same card, Ovil McKenzie became the British and European Commonwealth champion with a sensational second-round stoppage of Jon-Lewis Dickinson.
There were also wins for light-welterweight Bradley Saunders and middleweight Chris Eubank Jnr, who dropped Stepan Horvath twice in round five before doing the same again in the next round to force an early finish.
