Zolani Tete unleashed a brutal uppercut to stop Britain 's Paul Butler and claim victory in their IBF world super-flyweight title fight at Liverpool 's Echo Arena on Friday . Butler was bidding to add to the bantamweight belt he reluctantly gave up last year , but Tete 's eighth-round knock-out ensured it was the South African who emerged triumphant . Paul Butler 's attempt to become a two-weight world champion ended in failure . Butler was stopped in the eighth round by a brutal uppercut from Zolani Tete . Tete dominated the early rounds and while Butler responded with a strong left-hook in round five , his opponent restored control in the sixth and seventh before landing the decisive blow . ' I knew Paul was a good fighter , but I knew I could knock him out , ' Tete told BoxNation . 'Paul is shorter than me . I 'm looking forward to defending my title again . ' Butler was considered the pre-fight favourite but the 26-year-old conceded he had lost to the better fighter on the night . Tete dominated the early rounds at Liverpool 's Echo Arena on Friday . Tete landed the decisive blow in the eighth round to claim the title . 'He was very good and very awkward , a better man on the night , ' Butler said . ' I normally have people come towards me . He 's a very big kid , and we knew his power by his record . He 's a great champion . ' It means Tete 's record stands at 20-3 with 17 knock-outs while Butler is 17-1 , after suffering his first career loss . 'He can come back , ' promoter Frank Warren added . 'But he must learn from what happened . ' Earlier in the night , British veteran Derry Mathews maintained his pursuit of the WBA lightweight title after stopping Hungarian Gyorgy Mizsei Jr in the fifth round . Mathews will now shift his attention to a clash with reigning champion Richar Abril on April 18 .
Zolani Tete was bidding to become a two-weight world champion . The 26-year-old dropped a division for contest but lost to Paul Butler .