Hatton tips Butler to beat IBF bantamweight champion Hall

Former two-weight world champion Ricky Hatton has tipped Paul Butler to take Stuey Hall's IBF bantamweight title on Saturday.

Darlington's Hall, 34, makes the second defence of his title at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

Unbeaten Butler, a former British and Commonwealth super-flyweight champion from Ellesmere Port, is fighting at 118lb for only the second time.

"Watching Paul Butler is like watching myself from 10 years ago," said Hatton.

"People are starting to say he's the new Ricky Hatton and they wouldn't be far wrong giving him that title.

"With his hard body punching, the angles of attack, the relentless punching, he's excited me with his performances."

Butler, 25, has won all 15 of his pro fights and is coming off a fourth-round knockout of Argentina's Oreste Bernabe Nieva in March.

Hatton added: "It's not going to be easy for Butler but if he's the real thing, which I'm sure he is, Saturday night is the night he needs to show it and win in style."

Hall beat Vusi Malinga in December to land the IBF belt before beating local rival Martin Ward on a technical decision in March.

By defeating Malinga, Hall became the oldest British fighter to win a world title at the first attempt.

It sealed a remarkable turnaround after losses to Jamie McDonnell and Lee Haskins in the space of 10 months seemingly ended his hopes of becoming a world champion.

Hall, who has 16 wins, two losses and two draws from 20 professional fights, only joined the paid ranks in 2008 having turned his back on a hedonistic lifestyle in Ibiza.