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Cloutier’s Canada Corner
Steven Butler: "This Friday The
13th
Will Be Bad Luck For Pilz"
By Daniel Cloutier
MONTRÉAL - The Montrealer Steven Butler will proceed to the
first defense of his IBF Junior-Youth super welterweight
championship of the world Friday evening in the ring of the
Métropolis Centre in Montréal downtown. Butler will fight
the German Ferdinand Pilz (16-0-0). The Junior-Youth world
titles are for fighters of 21 years old or less.
“I am not superstitious, but our fight is presented a Friday
13th, and I really feel it will be a bad luck evening for
Pilz, said Butler in laughing Thursday morning at the weight
in held at the Montréal Casino. I am perfectly prepared
mentally, physically and strategically for this first
defense of my title. I am expecting to offer a solid
performance to my fans, and beat Pilz clearly.”
Butler watch a couple of videos to be able to evaluate the
qualities and weakness of his opponent. “He seems to be a
solid puncher, but I am positive I am a more complete
fighter than him, said Butler. And I still believe I am the
most destructive puncher of the super welterweight division
(154 pounds). No doubt in my mind, i will get out of the
ring with my belt in my hand. And I am expecting that 2016
and 2017 will be great years for me. I really feel I
becoming a very mature fighter, and I know I have the
talent, the weapons to go far on the international boxing
scene. It’s extremely exciting to live what I am living.”
Obviously, Pilz see the situation differently. “I got a very
good preparation for this bout, and it was crucial to do it,
said Pilz. Not only because Butler is IBF Junior-Youth super
welterweight champion of the world, but because he is
probably the best opponent I got so far in pro boxing.
However, I know I have the skills and the determination to
beat him. I am more than optimistic to leave Montréal
undefeated.”
At the weight in, Butler posted an official weight of 153.4
pounds, versus 153 for Pilz. Butler’s trainer, Ronald
Boisvert, cannot see how Pilz can beat his fighter. “Pilz
never faced a more talented fighter than Steven, said
Boisvert. He just fought average boxers pretty easy to beat.
He is a solid puncher, he has a good technique, but he has
not the speed to dominate Steven. I am positive Steven will
keep his title Friday evening.”
The Montrealer supper middleweight Schiller Hyppolite
(20-1-0), ranked seventh contender by the WBC in the 168
pounds division, will be involved in the most important
preliminary bout of the evening. Hyppolite will face the
Argentinian Daniel Pablo Nievas (32-13-1).
The others bouts of this undercard will involved the
Montrealers Dierry Jean (29-2-0), a super lightweight, the
super lightweight Ghislain Maduma (17-2-0), the super
welterweight Mian Hussain (15-0-0), the super lightweight
Mathieu Germain (6-0-0), the welterweight Battyrrzhan
Jukembayev, the super middleweight Louisbert Altidor
(3-0-0), and finally, the female Vanessa Lepage-Joanisse
(1-0-0), a cruiserweight.
Jean, who is coming back after his second therapy for
alcohol problems, will face Ricky Sismundo (20-5-2), from
Philippines, Maduma will fight the Argentinian David Cesar
Inalef (20-5-2), Hussain will challenge the Mexican Edgar
Ortega (16-4-0), Germain will be opposed to the Hungarian
Adam Mate (18-8-0), Jukembayev, who will make his pro debut,
will face the Polish Kamil Wybraniec (3-2-0), Altidor will
fight the veteran Montrealer Adam Green (13-5-0) and
Lepage-Joanisse will meet Annie Mazerolle (2-1-0), from New
Brunswick, Canada.
At the weigh in, Hyppolite posted a weight of 170.4 pounds,
Nievas 170.6, Jean 139.8, Sismundo 138.4, Maduma 141.4,
Inalef 142,6, Hussain 153.4, Ortega 153.6, Germain 141.6,
Mate 141.4, Jukembayev 143.6, Wybraniec 145.4, Altidor
163.6, Green 164.6, Lepage-Joanisse 182.2 and finally,
Mazerolle 179 pounds.
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