In December 2022, Dayaan Butt (left) lands a left hook on Requon Butler for a first-round stoppage victory. Photo by David Algranati/The Fight Photos
I had to look closely, and the proof was in his face. Dayan Butt suffered a small bruise under his left eye after receiving a headbutt in his third-round knockout win over Abraham Afful on May 6 this year, just three days earlier. Later that week, he took the stage to receive his degree at Temple University’s Fox School of Business in his hometown of Philadelphia.
For the 26-year-old junior welterweight boxer, finding a balance between passion and education has long been part of his unique life story.
“I don’t know what I was more excited about, the graduation or the match. But it was actually a really great moment,” said Butt (15-2, 7 knockouts), who majored in management information systems.
His agenda this week is less complicated, but his mission is no less dangerous. He will face tough journeyman Jordan Rosario (5-10, 1 KO) in a six-round bout this Saturday at the Robert Treat Hotel in Newark, New Jersey. The card was promoted by Rising Star Promotions, led by Thomas LaManna, and will be the 50th show. There was a promotion.
Rosario, 33, of Jersey City, New Jersey, has a deceptive record but showed he can pull off upsets with wins over Nikki Bitone in 2021 and 2023.
“To be honest, I don’t pay attention to my opponents. I just look at the good moments of their fights and leave the rest to the coach and the team,” said Butt, who was promoted from Nedal’s Promotions. .
His other school is a boxing gym, where he currently trains with Raul “Chino” Rivas and Nick Rosario at TKO Fitness in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. There, he furthers his ring education by sparring with fighters like former IBF junior lightweight titleholder Tevin Farmer. , former unified junior middleweight champion Julian Williams and Vito Mielnicki Jr.
Growing up in West Philadelphia, his Pakistani-American parents did their best to keep him out of trouble. A self-described “computer geek,” the young Daiyaan (pronounced “de-yaan”) was often teased about his last name, leading to physical fights.
Instead of living with his uncle and aunt in Bellaire, Butt joined a boxing gym at age 16. In just his fifth fight, he faced current lightweight champion Devin Haney at the 2015 United States Junior Boxing Championship. Although he lost by decision, facing the far more experienced Haney convinced Butt to take the sport more seriously.
“He was supposed to be the No. 1 amateur in the world, so I put up a good fight,” Butt said.
Butt turned professional in 2018 after a 25-fight amateur career that included winning a bronze medal at the 2016 USA Boxing Nationals. He has lost two, but won his last five matches.
Butt’s schedule doesn’t get busier in the new year. He is set to start a new job as a cybersecurity analyst at multinational accounting firm Ernst & Young, and has big plans for his boxing career.
“I believe I am ready for a step-up fight. We have offered fights to many fighters but have been turned down many times. I am ready, of course the next fight That’s my main focus, but I’m preparing for early next year,” Butt said.
Ryan Songalia has written for ESPN, the New York Daily News, Rappler, and the Guardian, and is a 2020 graduate of the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. Contact details are as follows: [email protected].
