Steven Butler vs Jose De Jesus Macias II Predictions: Butler revisits his pain in search of redemption

Former world title challenger Steven Butler boxes Jose De Jesus Macias for the second time this Friday, June 27. The bout takes place at Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Quebec on the undercard of Christian Mbilli vs Maciej Sulecki. ESPN+ will show the fight in America while the UK waits on a broadcaster.

Here are my Steven Butler vs Jose De Jesus Macias II predictions ahead of this Canada-bound clash.

Steven Butler vs Jose De Jesus Macias II Odds

Despite winning their first encounter, Macias is the underdog again at 13/5. The draw is priced at 16/1.

Steven Butler vs Jose De Jesus Macias II Fight Preview

Butler last appeared on these pages two fights ago, when his all-Canadian clash with countryman Patrice Volny was in my sights. On that occasion, I stated that “with four losses on his ledger and a recent rout in a world title bout, you feel like he has found his level.”

That total is now five defeats, with Volny knocking him out in nine rounds of their meeting. ‘Bang Bang’ Butler is still only 29 years of age, but the rate at which he is accumulating defeats is a concern. Which makes his choice to rematch one of the five men to beat him (five stoppages) a little perplexing on the surface.

Macias knocked Butler out in five rounds back in 2021. But the Mexican has gone 1-3-1 since, with his sole victory coming against journeyman Fernando Alvarez. The longer the 33-year-old Macias fights, the more the Butler win looks like a death rattle.

You could argue Macias has simply reverted to type and that the Butler win was an aberration. After all, the 33-year-old has faced current British, Commonwealth and European champion Callum Simpson, Erik Bazinyan and Pavel Silyagin since. All three are world-ranked and the trip have just one pro loss between them.

Given his defeats to the likes of Giovanni Santillan and Erickson Lubin in the past, you could argue Macias has just returned to his role of divisional gatekeeper. It just so happens that when Butler walked up to the gate, the Mexican slammed it shut in his face.

This do-over is a chance for Butler to exorcise one of his smaller demons. There is little chance of unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly giving him another shot, having crushed the Canadian in two rounds already.

Volny is riding a loss to Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, though a rematch is an option if Butler wins here. Ryoto Murata, who beat Butler in 2019, retired three years later after losing his WBA title to Gennady Golovkin. ‘Bad Boy’ Brandon Cook, the former WBO super welterweight title challenger, is 39 and has not boxed since October.

So Butler vs Macias is the path of least resistance or logistical effort when it comes to avenging one of the Canadian’s many knockout defeats. Will it be any different this time, though?

A first-round knockout of aging Argentine Fernando Farias provided the low-risk comeback Butler needed back in November. Macias will have more about him than that. But he can be hurt. Barnsley’s own Simpson had him on the deck in their fight. 

Butler has also been the more active of the pair, boxing nine times since their first meeting. Macias has only been out five times since, a shade over once a year. With Macias now 33, that sort of inconsistent activity can tell.

However, Butler does come fitted with a killswitch. The Montreal man loves to drop his hands, despite five opponents knocking him out. This troubling tendency means that Macias will have a chance throughout the fight. Can the Mexican take it once more?

Steven Butler vs Jose De Jesus Macias II Full Card

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Steven Butler vs Jose De Jesus Macias II Prediction

Butler fights always come with built-in jeopardy, simply because sometimes he will decide to simply not defend himself. But in terms of both skill level and knockout power, this should be quite straightforward.

But you could have said that for the first Macias fight. Butler always gives you that unpredictable air. A right hand sailed through his defence followed by a savage left hook to hand the Mexican the upset last time out. There is every chance Macias finds those big gaps in the Butler defence again.

But I have to go on the balance of probability. I think a Butler decision is the sensible play, despite the inherent risk. If the likes of Simpson and Bazinyan did not shift Macias, I don’t think Butler does. But I do think he avoids trouble this time. Butler via decision is my pick at 29/2o.

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