HUDDERSFIELD cage fighter Ian Butlin has been chosen to launch a new current affairs series on ITV in Yorkshire.
His latest gruelling contest, and the strenuous build-up to it, has been filmed for Wood You Believe It? and is to be screened tomorrow night.
Viewers will see the no-nonsense gym work that sets up Butlin, one of the highest rated lightweight fighters in the country, for his latest challenge.
They’ll follow him to the highly charged atmosphere of the arena, into the cage itself, and discover the brutal reality of the sport which is increasing in popularity.
Butlin’s story is told by Duncan Wood, who’s back for a second series of Wood You Believe It. The journalist, who also presents Calendar, said “Ian’s story is an explosive one and a great start to our second run.
“We try to find real characters from Yorkshire, tell their stories, and pose the question Wood You Believe It? When everyone watches this film I wonder if they will believe what Ian puts himself through to make it into the cage!”
Butlin, 29, was a promising boxer with the Rawthorpe club before switching to cage fighting five years ago.
The former Lindley Junior School, Salendine Nook High School and Greenhead College student became an instant success, winning titles at home and abroad.
He worked as a personal trainer for four years and also got involved in promoting the sport, helping to bring cage fighting to Huddersfield for the first time in 2005.
He is one of three brothers who have all been keen sportsmen and earned a sports studies degree at Edge Hill University in Ormskirk, Lancashire.
Wood You Believe It? is on ITV1 at 10.40pm tomorrow.
