Steven Butler (33-4-1, 27 KOs) and Steve Rolls (22-3, 12 KOs) will face off in a highly anticipated Quebec-Ontario showdown, this Thursday. Beyond national pride, it’s a crucial fight for the international future of the winner and – who knows? – perhaps the end of the road for the loser. Who will get the job done? Punching Grace asked the question to 10 experts…
Anson Wainwright : Ring Magazine
“I lean towards Butler, Rolls is very solid and will have his moments but I feel the younger man by a decade is a little fresher and will want it more. While I wouldn’t rule out Butler getting a late stoppage I think he’ll ultimately settle for a 10-round unanimous points decision in a competitive clash.”
Butler by UD.
Laurent Poulin : Boxingtown Québec
“I was shocked when I heard this fight was happening. Rolls seemed to have beaten Edgar Berlanga in 2022, gave Austin Williams hell in ’23, and even dared to hit ‘GGG’ with both hands. Butler, on the other hand, has only boxed once since his loss to Janibek Alimkhanuly… and it wasn’t all that impressive. This is truly a classic crossroads fight where the loser goes directly into retirement or deep on an undercard. Steve Rolls will win thanks to his technique and the presence of Sam Décarie-Drolet in his corner.” Rolls by unanimous decision.
Rolls by UD.
Cole Whiston : Boxing World Weekly
“When it comes to 50/50 fights, you have to favour the side that provides the least risk. And in the case of Butler vs. Rolls, the least risky option is Butler because of his youth and power. Yes, he has been stopped four times with one of those coming less than a year ago but Rolls isn’t known for his punching prowess. Therefore, I’m picking Butler by decision in a reasonably competitive fight.”
Butler by UD.
William Dumoulin : Boxing News QC
“We can expect a very competitive fight between Butler and Rolls. Rolls has good defense with his Philly Shell guard, which will allow him to defend against Butler’s right hands and counter. It will also be a jab war from the beginning of the fight. I expect Rolls to be able to win this war and win the majority of rounds. However, Butler will go all out in the end, but it won’t be enough…”
Rolls by UD (96-94).
Francis Paquin : RDS
“It’s certainly possible to spend hours contemplating the outcome of the fight between Steven Butler and Steve Rolls and change your mind after thinking of a new element previously forgotten. Fundamentally, Butler can’t afford to make any mistakes. Rolls is an excellent athlete but is not Golovkin or Alimkhanuly. However, it won’t be easy. The Quebecer will drop several rounds, but it’s his power that will make the difference. And if Butler manages to stop Rolls before the limit, then he will undoubtedly deserve our respect.”
Butler by KO.
Anthony Marcotte : BPM Sports
“It’s a tall order for Steven. I wasn’t impressed by his last outing against Ivan Alvarez, a second-tier opponent for a tune-up fight. He beat him by KO, but I found him vulnerable defensively, getting caught too often, especially by a few uppercuts. In Rolls, we have a good technician with a complicated style. An experienced guy who believes he has all the abilities to win. I admire all the family sacrifices Steven makes to move to the United States, away from his loved ones, to return to peak form. I’m just not convinced he can shed the label of a good local boxer unable to compete with the elite. Steve Rolls is right in between the two. If he can’t beat him, Butler will have some big decisions to make for the rest of his career.”
Rolls by UD.
Matt Casavant : Punching Grace
“I expect a very exciting fight, especially in the second half. Rolls knows he can’t afford to lose a second fight in a row, and Butler needs to be able to beat a veteran like Rolls if he wants to aspire to the top 15 in the division. You have all the ingredients in place for a close and dramatic fight at times. Butler will want to be more active, work behind his jab, and will have early success in the fight. When Rolls opens up, will Butler want to put on a show and ‘fight’ more? Most likely. I see Butler winning by decision because ultimately, he is too quick for Rolls.”
Butler by SD.
Boog Williams : LDUBB Boxing
“Steve Rolls performs well against top competition. He is a good boxer with underrated power. Steven Butler is strong and agressive, but usually performs poorly when he steps up.”
Rolls by UD (97-93).
Dave Lévesque : Journal de Montréal
“This is a very interesting matchup because it’s hard to say who will come out on top. Rolls is a veteran who stumbled in a few of his recent fights, while Butler has the advantage of youth. However, he was shaken by his last world title defeat, and his most recent outing wasn’t entirely convincing. With a very good opponent in front of him, ‘Bang Bang’ must pass this big test… and he will.”
Butler by UD.
Manny Montreal : Talking Boxing
“In the end, this fight is a question of patience; something that Rolls may have a bit too much of and Butler hasn’t done enough of! At 39, I think Rolls may have passed his expiration date. Conversely, Coach ‘Iceman’ John Scully will know how to preserve and extend Butler’s career. A patient, methodical, and repetitive jab will lead to the eventual stoppage of the fight… in favor of Butler.”
Butler by KO.
Final Result: 6-4 in favor of Steven Butler. Could this be the final score of the fight? Watch on March 7th on Punchinggrace.com.
