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 Neilson in 1998.

Lionel Butler
Born (1967-07-25) July 25, 1967 (age 57)
Other namesThe Train
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
Reach72 in (183 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights51
Wins32
Wins by KO25
Losses17
Draws1
No contests1

Professional career

edit

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 of that year. 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

edit
51 fights 32 wins 17 losses
By knockout 25 8
By decision 6 6
By disqualification 1 3
Draws 1
No contests 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
51 Loss 32–17–1 (1)   Damian Wills UD 10 12 Jun 2010   Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California
50 Loss 32–16–1 (1)   Andrey Fedosov KO 2 (8), 2:37 8 Jan 2010   Civic Auditorium, Glendale, California
49 Win 32–15–1 (1)   Fred Kassi SD 6 10 Sep 2009   San Manuel Indian Casino, Highland, California
48 Loss 31–15–1 (1)   Andre Purlette TKO 2 (10), 1:53 9 Sep 2003   Level Nightclub, Miami, Florida
47 Win 31–14–1 (1)   Dan Ward TKO 3 (6) 30 Aug 2003   Sam's Town Casino, Tunica, Mississippi
46 Win 30–14–1 (1)   John Dixon KO 2 (6), 1:27 18 Jul 2003   Argosy Casino Atrium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
45 Win 29–14–1 (1)   Willie Driver KO 3 (6) 2 Feb 2002   Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi
44 Win 28–14–1 (1)   Craig Brinson UD 4 23 Jan 2002   Caesars Indiana, Bridgeport, Indiana
43 Loss 27–14–1 (1)   Brian Nielsen KO 1 (12), 2:37 6 Nov 1998   K.B. Hallen, Copenhagen For IBO heavyweight title
42 Win 27–13–1 (1)   Cleveland Woods TKO 9 (10), 2:09 28 Oct 1997   Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
41 Loss 26–13–1 (1)   Michael Grant DQ 4 (10), 0:38 19 Apr 1997   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)   Marcos Gonzalez KO 1 (12), 2:36 23 Jan 1997   Country Club, Reseda, California Won vacant WBF Heavyweight title
39 Win 25–12–1 (1)   Bomani Parker KO 1 (10), 3:00 21 Nov 1996   Country Club, Reseda, California
38 Win 24–12–1 (1)   Salvador Maciel TKO 1 (10), 0:55 17 Oct 1996   Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
37 Loss 23–12–1 (1)   Chris Byrd TKO 8 (10), 0:57 23 Apr, 1996   The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan
36 Win 23–11–1 (1)   Mauricio Villegas TKO 2 (10), 2:11 18 Mar 1996   County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
35 Loss 22–11–1 (1)   Lennox Lewis TKO 5 (12), 2:55 13 May 1995   ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California WBC heavyweight title eliminator
34 Win 22–10–1 (1)   James Flowers TKO 1 (10), 1:53 1 Mar 1995   Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
33 NC 21–10–1 (1)   Eric Curry TKO 3 (10), 3:00 26 Apr 1994   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   Jerry Jones RTD 1 (10), 3:00 8 Feb 1994   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   James Smith TKO 3 (10), 2:19 18 Jan 1994   Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska
30 Win 19–10–1   Lawrence Carter TKO 1 (10) 2:39 16 Nov, 1993   Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi
29 Win 18–10–1   Tim Bullock TKO 1 (?) 27 May 1993   Biloxi, Mississippi
28 Win 17–10–1   Jesse Shelby TKO 4 (?) 4 May 1993   McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado
27 Win 16–10–1   Craig Payne RTD 7 (10), 3:00 26 Mar 1993   Country Club, Reseda, California The bout was halted after round 7 because of an injury to Payne's eye.
26 Win 15–10–1   Tony Willis TKO 5 (10), 2:15 23 Feb 1993   Country Club, Reseda, California Won vacant IBO Heavyweight title
25 Win 14–10–1   John Morton TKO 5 (10), 2:43 4 Nov 1992   Country Club, Reseda, California
24 Win 13–10–1   Tony Tubbs KO 1 (10), 3:00 18 Aug 1992   Bayfront Auditorium, Pensacola, Florida
23 Win 12–10–1   David Dixon DQ 4 (?) 11 May 1992   Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California Dixon was disqualified for repeatedly hitting low.
22 Win 11–10–1   Juan Ramon Perez KO 1 (?) 31 Mar 1992   Country Club, Reseda, California
21 Win 10–10–1   Sam Adkins TKO 5 (?) 25 Feb 1992   Country Club, Reseda, California
20 Win 9–10–1   Terry Verners KO 1 (6) 17 Dec 1991   Country Club, Reseda, California
19 Win 8–10–1   Dominic Parker KO 1 (6) 26 Nov 1991   Country Club, Reseda, California
18 Win 7–10–1   Don Askew KO 1 (?) 29 Oct 1991   Country Club, Reseda, California
17 Loss 6–10–1   Kevin Ford SD 8 29 Apr 1991   Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
16 Win 6–9–1   James Ruffin KO 1 (?), 0:40 5 Feb 1991   Longhorn Club, Vinton, Louisiana
15 Loss 5–9–1   Terry Davis DQ 2 (?) 1 Feb 1991   Richmond, California
14 Loss 5–8–1   Terry Davis DQ 5 (?) 14 Dec 1990   Brownsville, Texas
13 Loss 5–7–1   Oliver McCall SD 10 16 Jul 1990   Central Plaza Hotel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
12 Draw 5–6–1   Sean McClain TD 1 (6), 1:07 10 May 1990   Harrah's Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, Nevada Originally announced as a disqualification win for McClain due to repeated low blows
11 Win 5–6   Vyacheslav Yakovlev MD 6 12 Apr 1990   Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
10 Loss 4–6   Craig Petersen UD 6 24 Mar 1990   Fairgrounds Arena, Mobile, Alabama
9 Win 4–5   Tim Adams PTS 4 5 Mar 1990   Fairgrounds Arena, Mobile, Alabama
8 Loss 3–5   Sammy Speech UD 6 16 Feb 1990   Clarion Hotel Ballroom, St Louis, Missouri
7 Win 3–4   Jerry Goff TKO 2 (4) 25 Jan 1990   Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana
6 Win 2–4   Troy Jefferson UD 4 11 Jan 1990   New Orleans, Louisiana
5 Loss 1–4   James Pritchard TKO 6 9 Dec 1989   Biloxi, Mississippi
4 Loss 1–3   Cleveland Woods TKO 2 (4), 1:48 1 Aug 1989   Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
3 Win 1–2   Michael Carroll UD 6 1 Apr 1989   Biloxi, Mississippi
2 Loss 0–2   Riddick Bowe TKO 2 (4), 1:55 6 Mar 1989   Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada
1 Loss 0–1   Phil Jackson PTS 4 24 Feb 1989   Biloxi, Mississippi Professional debut

References

edit
  1. ^ Tosches, Rich. First Resurgent Butler to Face Morton at Country Club, L.A. Times, 1992-11-04, Retrieved on 2014-02-16
  2. ^ Munoz, Theresa Smith. Commission Rules Butler Must Take Tests Before Bouts, L.A. Times, 1993-08-21, Retrieved on 2014-02-16
  3. ^ Hiserman, Mike. Butler Belts Out a Quick Victory and Claims Title, L.A. Times, 1997-01-24, Retrieved on 2014-02-16
  4. ^ "BoxRec: Login".
Sporting positions
Preceded by IBO Heavyweight Champion
23 February 1993 – March 1993
Stripped
Succeeded by
Preceded by WBF Heavyweight Champion
23 January 1997 – 1997
Stripped
Succeeded by