Lionel Butler
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Lionel Butler (born July 25, 1967) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2010. He is best known for his 1995 fight with Lennox Lewis, but also faced world champions Tony Tubbs, James Smith, Chris Byrd, and Oliver McCall. Though he never held or challenged for a world title from any of the main four sanctioning bodies (WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO) outside of his eliminator bout with Lewis, he won the vacant IBO heavyweight title in 1993 and unsuccessfully challenged for the title again against Brian Nielsen in 1998.
Professional career
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". Butler made his professional debut on February 24, 1989 in a losing effort to future contender Phil Jackson. In his second fight, Butler was knocked out in the second round by the debuting future undisputed heavyweight Champion Riddick Bowe on March 6, 1989. The following month, Butler would pick up his first victory against Michael Carroll. Butler struggled during the early portion of his career, going 6–10–1 in his first 17 fights; however, Butler's fortune would change in 1991, as he racked up three consecutive first-round knockouts during that year and followed with 13 more knockout victories from 1992 to 1994 (one victory was later changed to a no contest after Butler failed a drug test after the fight). During his 16-fight undefeated streak, Butler scored victories over such fighters as former WBA heavyweight champions Tony Tubbs (whom Butler dispatched in less than one round)[1] and James "Bonecrusher" Smith, while also winning both the IBO and California heavyweight title on February 23, 1993 with a victory over Tony Willis. Butler's success was halted in 1993 when a positive test for marijuana earned Butler a six-month suspension and he was subsequently stripped of both heavyweight titles as a result.[2] Butler rebounded and in 1995, now ranked the number two heavyweight by WBC would get his first high-profile match, as he was matched up against Lennox Lewis, who had recently lost his title to Oliver McCall, in a "eliminator" bout with the winner earning the right to fight for the WBC heavyweight championship. Butler, however, came into the fight grossly out of shape at 261 pounds (118 kg) and was thoroughly outboxed by Lewis, who knocked Butler out in the fifth round. Following his loss to Lewis, Butler was never quite able to reach the level of success he had obtained from 1991 to 1994. Butler would win the World Boxing Federation (WBF) heavyweight title on January 23, 1997 after defeating Marcos Gonzalez by first-round knockout,[3] but would lose to up-and-coming heavyweights Chris Byrd and Michael Grant. In 1998, Butler would challenge the undefeated Danish boxer Brian Nielsen for the IBO heavyweight title, but was knocked out in the first round. Butler would then take a three-year hiatus from boxing before returning in January 2002. Butler would win the first four fights of his comeback before meeting the once highly regarded knockout artist Andre Purlette, who promptly knocked out Butler in the second round. Butler would again leave boxing after the Purlette fight, but would launch one more comeback in 2009. He would go 1–2 in three fights between 2009 and 2010 before retiring for good following a loss to Damian Wills on June 12, 2010.[4]
Professional boxing record
| No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | Loss | 32–17–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Damian Wills | UD | 10 | 12 Jun 2010 | Template:Flagicon Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California | |
| 50 | Loss | 32–16–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Andrey Fedosov | KO | 2 (8), 2:37 | 8 Jan 2010 | Template:Flagicon Civic Auditorium, Glendale, California | |
| 49 | Win | 32–15–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Fred Kassi | SD | 6 | 10 Sep 2009 | Template:Flagicon San Manuel Indian Casino, Highland, California | |
| 48 | Loss | 31–15–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Andre Purlette | TKO | 2 (10), 1:53 | 9 Sep 2003 | Template:Flagicon Level Nightclub, Miami, Florida | |
| 47 | Win | 31–14–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Dan Ward | TKO | 3 (6) | 30 Aug 2003 | Template:Flagicon Sam's Town Casino, Tunica, Mississippi | |
| 46 | Win | 30–14–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon John Dixon | KO | 2 (6), 1:27 | 18 Jul 2003 | Template:Flagicon Argosy Casino Atrium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana | |
| 45 | Win | 29–14–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Willie Driver | KO | 3 (6) | 2 Feb 2002 | Template:Flagicon Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi | |
| 44 | Win | 28–14–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Craig Brinson | UD | 4 | 23 Jan 2002 | Template:Flagicon Caesars Indiana, Bridgeport, Indiana | |
| 43 | Loss | 27–14–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Brian Nielsen | KO | 1 (12), 2:37 | 6 Nov 1998 | Template:Flagicon K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen | For IBO heavyweight title |
| 42 | Win | 27–13–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Cleveland Woods | TKO | 9 (10), 2:09 | 28 Oct 1997 | Template:Flagicon Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 41 | Loss | 26–13–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Michael Grant | DQ | 4 (10), 0:38 | 19 Apr 1997 | Template:Flagicon Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, Nevada | Butler deducted points for a headbutt in 2nd, a low blow in 3rd, then DQed for another low blow in 4th |
| 40 | Win | 26–12–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Marcos Gonzalez | KO | 1 (12), 2:36 | 23 Jan 1997 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | Won vacant WBF Heavyweight title |
| 39 | Win | 25–12–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Bomani Parker | KO | 1 (10), 3:00 | 21 Nov 1996 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | |
| 38 | Win | 24–12–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Salvador Maciel | TKO | 1 (10), 0:55 | 17 Oct 1996 | Template:Flagicon Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California | |
| 37 | Loss | 23–12–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Chris Byrd | TKO | 8 (10), 0:57 | 23 Apr, 1996 | Template:Flagicon The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan | |
| 36 | Win | 23–11–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Mauricio Villegas | TKO | 2 (10), 2:11 | 18 Mar 1996 | Template:Flagicon County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas | |
| 35 | Loss | 22–11–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Lennox Lewis | TKO | 5 (12), 2:55 | 13 May 1995 | Template:Flagicon ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California | WBC heavyweight title eliminator |
| 34 | Win | 22–10–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon James Flowers | TKO | 1 (10), 1:53 | 1 Mar 1995 | Template:Flagicon Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida | |
| 33 | NC | 21–10–1 (1) | Template:Flagicon Eric Curry | TKO | 3 (10), 3:00 | 26 Apr 1994 | Template:Flagicon The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan | Originally a TKO 3 win for Butler, changed to a NC as Butler tested positive for an illegal substance |
| 32 | Win | 21–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Jerry Jones | RTD | 1 (10), 3:00 | 8 Feb 1994 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | Jones was unable to continue after round one due to a severe cut above the right eye. |
| 31 | Win | 20–10–1 | Template:Flagicon James Smith | TKO | 3 (10), 2:19 | 18 Jan 1994 | Template:Flagicon Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska | |
| 30 | Win | 19–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Lawrence Carter | TKO | 1 (10) 2:39 | 16 Nov, 1993 | Template:Flagicon Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi | |
| 29 | Win | 18–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Tim Bullock | TKO | 1 (?) | 27 May 1993 | Template:Flagicon Biloxi, Mississippi | |
| 28 | Win | 17–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Jesse Shelby | TKO | 4 (?) | 4 May 1993 | Template:Flagicon McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado | |
| 27 | Win | 16–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Craig Payne | RTD | 7 (10), 3:00 | 26 Mar 1993 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | The bout was halted after round 7 because of an injury to Payne's eye. |
| 26 | Win | 15–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Tony Willis | TKO | 5 (10), 2:15 | 23 Feb 1993 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | Won vacant IBO Heavyweight title |
| 25 | Win | 14–10–1 | Template:Flagicon John Morton | TKO | 5 (10), 2:43 | 4 Nov 1992 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | |
| 24 | Win | 13–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Tony Tubbs | KO | 1 (10), 3:00 | 18 Aug 1992 | Template:Flagicon Bayfront Auditorium, Pensacola, Florida | |
| 23 | Win | 12–10–1 | Template:Flagicon David Dixon | DQ | 4 (?) | 11 May 1992 | Template:Flagicon Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California | Dixon was disqualified for repeatedly hitting low. |
| 22 | Win | 11–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Juan Ramon Perez | KO | 1 (?) | 31 Mar 1992 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | |
| 21 | Win | 10–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Sam Adkins | TKO | 5 (?) | 25 Feb 1992 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | |
| 20 | Win | 9–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Terry Verners | KO | 1 (6) | 17 Dec 1991 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | |
| 19 | Win | 8–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Dominic Parker | KO | 1 (6) | 26 Nov 1991 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | |
| 18 | Win | 7–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Don Askew | KO | 1 (?) | 29 Oct 1991 | Template:Flagicon Country Club, Reseda, California | |
| 17 | Loss | 6–10–1 | Template:Flagicon Kevin Ford | SD | 8 | 29 Apr 1991 | Template:Flagicon Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California | |
| 16 | Win | 6–9–1 | Template:Flagicon James Ruffin | KO | 1 (?), 0:40 | 5 Feb 1991 | Template:Flagicon Longhorn Club, Vinton, Louisiana | |
| 15 | Loss | 5–9–1 | Template:Flagicon Terry Davis | DQ | 2 (?) | 1 Feb 1991 | Template:Flagicon Richmond, California | |
| 14 | Loss | 5–8–1 | Template:Flagicon Terry Davis | DQ | 5 (?) | 14 Dec 1990 | Template:Flagicon Brownsville, Texas | |
| 13 | Loss | 5–7–1 | Template:Flagicon Oliver McCall | SD | 10 | 16 Jul 1990 | Template:Flagicon Central Plaza Hotel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | |
| 12 | Draw | 5–6–1 | Template:Flagicon Sean McClain | TD | 1 (6), 1:07 | 10 May 1990 | Template:Flagicon Harrah's Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Nevada | Originally announced as a disqualification win for McClain due to repeated low blows |
| 11 | Win | 5–6 | Template:Flagicon Vyacheslav Yakovlev | MD | 6 | 12 Apr 1990 | Template:Flagicon Korakuen Hall, Tokyo | |
| 10 | Loss | 4–6 | Template:Flagicon Craig Petersen | UD | 6 | 24 Mar 1990 | Template:Flagicon Fairgrounds Arena, Mobile, Alabama | |
| 9 | Win | 4–5 | Template:Flagicon Tim Adams | PTS | 4 | 5 Mar 1990 | Template:Flagicon Fairgrounds Arena, Mobile, Alabama | |
| 8 | Loss | 3–5 | Template:Flagicon Sammy Speech | UD | 6 | 16 Feb 1990 | Template:Flagicon Clarion Hotel Ballroom, St Louis, Missouri | |
| 7 | Win | 3–4 | Template:Flagicon Jerry Goff | TKO | 2 (4) | 25 Jan 1990 | Template:Flagicon Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana | |
| 6 | Win | 2–4 | Template:Flagicon Troy Jefferson | UD | 4 | 11 Jan 1990 | Template:Flagicon New Orleans, Louisiana | |
| 5 | Loss | 1–4 | Template:Flagicon James Pritchard | TKO | 6 | 9 Dec 1989 | Template:Flagicon Biloxi, Mississippi | |
| 4 | Loss | 1–3 | Template:Flagicon Cleveland Woods | TKO | 2 (4), 1:48 | 1 Aug 1989 | Template:Flagicon Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada | |
| 3 | Win | 1–2 | Template:Flagicon Michael Carroll | UD | 6 | 1 Apr 1989 | Template:Flagicon Biloxi, Mississippi | |
| 2 | Loss | 0–2 | Template:Flagicon Riddick Bowe | TKO | 2 (4), 1:55 | 6 Mar 1989 | Template:Flagicon Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada | |
| 1 | Loss | 0–1 | Template:Flagicon Phil Jackson | PTS | 4 | 24 Feb 1989 | Template:Flagicon Biloxi, Mississippi | Professional debut |
References
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- ^ Tosches, Rich. First Resurgent Butler to Face Morton at Country Club, L.A. Times, 1992-11-04, Retrieved on 2014-02-16
- ^ Munoz, Theresa Smith. Commission Rules Butler Must Take Tests Before Bouts, L.A. Times, 1993-08-21, Retrieved on 2014-02-16
- ^ Hiserman, Mike. Butler Belts Out a Quick Victory and Claims Title, L.A. Times, 1997-01-24, Retrieved on 2014-02-16
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."BoxRec: Login".
