People have often said that Steven Butler has always been one win away from a marquee fight, and on Sunday night, that statement rang truer than ever. It’s a shame the referee stopped the fight so prematurely.
Let’s be honest, the momentum at the end of the fight wasn’t in Steven’s favour.
But when has “Bang Bang” Butler ever had a problem coming from behind in his career?
Photo: Ed Mulholland – Steven Butler
The Puncher’s Chance
There have been several moments throughout Butler’s career when things weren’t going his way, only for his opponent to suddenly find themselves flat on the canvas.
His fight against Stephane Fondjo immediately comes to mind.
The circumstances weren’t exactly the same. Fondjo had already been knocked down several times throughout the fight, and he doesn’t possess the same kind of power as Berlanga.
But the point is that, in the later rounds, things weren’t necessarily looking good for Butler.
Yet he still managed to pull a rabbit out of the hat, knocking Fondjo out in the ninth round.
I’m not saying that’s what would have happened against Berlanga, but it would have been worth letting them continue. In boxing, it only takes one punch for everything to change.
That’s the nature of the sport, and it’s even more true when you put two of the hardest punchers in the super middleweight division inside the same ring.
Photo: Ed Mulholland – Steven Butler vs. Edgar Berlanga
Everyone expected fireworks.
Steven was still standing firmly on both feet when the fight was stopped. No, things weren’t going well, but if he chose boxing as a profession, it’s because he understands that’s part of the game.
He knew exactly what he was signing up for when he stepped into the ring with the Puerto Rican.
If he never wanted to get hurt or take heavy shots, he would have chosen a different sport.
At the end of the day, I believe a moment was taken away from him. You never know what can happen in boxing, the puncher’s chance is very real.
And it’s not as if Steven was being completely outclassed. After all, he was the first man to put his opponent on the canvas.
I was genuinely surprised when Berlanga went down, but I guess “Bang Bang” really lives up to his nickname.
No matter what Edgar Berlanga says, if he tries to convince anyone that this fight was easy, the marks on his face tell a very different story.
Photo: Ed Mulholland – Steven Butler vs. Edgar Berlanga
Roadblocks on the International Stage
Over the past few years, it’s been clear that things are going exceptionally well for Eye of the Tiger. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, they’ve reached the top of the mountain.
They now have multiple world champions, legitimate contenders, and plenty of international fights.
But their biggest challenge remains those international bouts.
You can feel they’re getting closer. There have been several occasions where I’ve watched one of their fighters and thought, “This is the one.”
Think about Imam Khataev, who lost what many considered a highly controversial decision to David Morrell. Or Christian Mbilli, who went to war with Lester Martinez in a fight that ended in a draw.
They keep getting so close to the finish line, yet the bitter taste remains just as strong.
Still, it’s bound to happen sooner or later. It’s only a matter of time.
Photo: Ed Mulholland – Steven Butler vs. Edgar Berlanga
And what a moment it would be if Mbilli successfully defends his WBC title against none other than Canelo Alvarez in Saudi Arabia.
That said, it would have been iconic if Steven Butler had been the one to break that streak on Sunday night.
The franchise fighter of Eye of the Tiger, who has been with the promotion since 2014.
It truly would have been a special moment, but unfortunately it’s time to look ahead.
Steven will get another opportunity to bounce back. If anything, Sunday’s performance only raised his profile.
If there’s one thing boxing fans admire, it’s a warrior.
Photo: Ed Mulholland – Steven Butler
