Patrice Volny left a better memory than his previous step up in the competition.
The 34-year-old middleweight returned to the stage after a ninth-round stoppage of Steven Butler. The Montreal clash saw Volny take the lead and consistently hurt the former title contender. Referee Alain Villeneuve did not like Butler’s body language and stopped the belt at 2:40 in the ninth round on Thursday evening from the Montreal Casino in Montreal, Canada.
A quick protest was organized by Butler, who shoved the referee lightly before regaining his senses. He put his arms around Villenueve’s shoulders to plead guilty, but to no avail.
Butler actually got off to a good start. Volny wasn’t far behind, but spent the early laps letting Butler dictate the pace.
A mid-fight adjustment saw Volny (19-1, 13 knockouts) find home for his uppercut. The strike changed the game, as Butler (34-5-1, 28 KOs) failed to secure the strike.
Momentum was with Volny as the fight headed into the later rounds. Butler’s power was quickly lacking, while Volny appeared to hurt the 28-year-old middleweight on numerous occasions.
The frustration clearly started with Butler, who was taught to hit with low intent in the bottom of the eighth. Iglesias made a full recovery and took control in the ninth round. Butler was able to land a few left hooks, though the arm punches didn’t have much of an impact.
Volny connected with a left hook and then a head-rattling right uppercut. Butler appeared stunned as he landed another left hook 45 seconds into the round. The clinic bought him for a while but Volny went back to work. Left hooks and overhand rights remain with fearsome regularity while there is no return from Butler. It was enough to produce the end of the war, although Butler was disappointed.
Butler has been suspended in each of the five losses. Among them was a two-round elimination at the hands of Ring No. 1-ranking Janibek Alimkhanuly, who defended his title by winning last May in Las Vegas.
Volny has now won five in a row since a November 2022 technical decision loss to Esquiva Falcao. Their unbeaten IBF middleweight title run ended in an anti-climactic fashion, when a head injury left Falcao unable to continue. Volny won 58-57 on one card, he lost 58-57 and 58-56 to Falcao who won the IBF middleweight title unsuccessfully.
That night remained a bad link in Volny’s career, as he lacked a significant victory. That changed on Thursday, and so did his situation. Volny can be considered a viable contender in the middleweight division that is in dire need of an overhaul.
Their match was broadcast live on ESPN+ in the US
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring and vice president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.
