At regional level he held the WBC-NABF super-welterweight title in 2016 As an amateur, Butaev was a winner of the Kazan Summer Universiade in 2013, fighting at light-welterweight.

[6] On September 30, 2019, it was announced that Butaev would fight Alexander Besputin for the vacant WBA Regular and EBP welterweight titles.

[8] On January 15, 2020, it was revealed by the Monaco Boxing Federation that Besputin had tested positive for ligandrol, a substance prohibited by WADA.

[9] Butaev immediately called the outcome of the fight into question, saying that the positive test was a "...disgrace and is disrespectful to the sport of boxing".

[15] Butaev achieved his career best win, as he stopped James by technical knockout at the 2:12 minute mark of the ninth round.