Paul Butler has detailed the frustrating sequence of events in December that saw him just hours away from taking to the ring without knowing his opponent or the details of a bout.
The Liverpool fighter travelled to Dubai to face WBO world bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero but his opponent failed to make weight - though he'll now get his shot on April 22nd in Liverpool.
That cast plenty of doubt upon proceedings, with Butler ready to fight but now not being able to face the defending champion.
Instead, Joseph Agbeko was floated as a potential opponent but, again, plenty of doubt remained - with it unclear whether he would remain WBO mandatory challenger or whether the title would be on the line in his bout with Agbeko.
In the end, Butler decided he had nothing to gain from such a situation and brought an end to the uncertainty by making the decision himself.
By his own admission, it was the most difficult moment of Butler's career and it was clear that Casimero was never ready for the planned bout.
“It was hard, it was really hard. Casimero didn’t make weight, didn’t even attempt to get on the scales," the Probellum fighter exclusively told the ECHO.
"Then we had Joseph Agbeko put in front of us and for me I was in a situation where I was being pressed to fight when I didn’t really have to because I was number one, the WBO were saying I’m still number one and mandatory challenger if I don’t fight, so what would have been the point in me stepping in the ring with Agbeko?
"Everyone has seen stuff that can happen with bad injuries, cuts, if I was to get cut and got stopped, anything like that, that’s my career over. So I sat back and had a little think, I decided that I’d keep my number one spot and take my chance at fighting Casimero in the New Year.
"It’s paid off for me but it was probably the hardest decision I’ve had in my career, I woke up on fight day not knowing whether I was boxing for a world title, whether I was fighting Agbeko, whether it was for the title, whether it was for interim, nothing.
"I didn’t have a clue about anything, we were still sat there in cuckooland at four o’clock, I was meant to be going to the arena in a couple of hours and we didn’t even know if I was boxing. In the end I said there was literally no point, why put my number one spot on the line for Agbeko to have a win-win situation, so we walked away.”
Tickets for Probellum Liverpool on Friday, April 22 are on sale now at www.mandsbankarena.com. For full fight details and news go to Probellum.com
