Lionel Butler


Lionel Butler is an American former professional boxer. He is perhaps best known for his 1995 bout with Lennox Lewis.

Professional career

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. During his 16-fight undefeated streak, Butler scored victories over such fighters as former WBA heavyweight champions Tony Tubbs 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. 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 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 heavyweight title on January 23, 1997 after defeating Marcos Gonzalez by first-round knockout, 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.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
51Loss32–17–1 Damian WillsUD1012 Jun 2010 Hollywood Palladium, Hollywood, California
50Loss32–16–1 Andrey FedosovKO2, 2:378 Jan 2010 Civic Auditorium, Glendale, California
49Win32–15–1 Fred KassiSD610 Sep 2009 San Manuel Indian Casino, Highland, California
48Loss31–15–1 Andre PurletteTKO2, 1:539 Sep 2003 Level Nightclub, Miami, Florida
47Win31–14–1 Dan WardTKO3 30 Aug 2003 Sam's Town Casino, Tunica, Mississippi
46Win30–14–1 John DixonKO2, 1:2718 Jul 2003 Argosy Casino Atrium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
45Win29–14–1 Willie DriverKO3 2 Feb 2002 Grand Casino, Gulfport, Mississippi
44Win28–14–1 Craig BrinsonUD423 Jan 2002 Caesars Indiana, Bridgeport, Indiana
43Loss27–14–1 Brian NielsenKO1, 2:376 Nov 1998 K.B. Hallen, CopenhagenFor IBO heavyweight title
42Win27–13–1 Cleveland WoodsTKO9, 2:0928 Oct 1997 Orleans Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
41Loss26–13–1 Michael GrantDQ4, 0:3819 Apr 1997 Las Vegas Hilton, Las Vegas, NevadaButler deducted points for a headbutt in 2nd, a low blow
in 3rd, then DQ'd for another low blow in 4th.
40Win26–12–1 Marcos GonzalezKO1, 2:3623 Jan 1997 Country Club, Reseda, CaliforniaWon vacant WBF Heavyweight title
39Win25–12–1 Bomani ParkerKO1, 3:0021 Nov 1996 Country Club, Reseda, California
38Win24–12–1 Salvador MacielTKO1, 0:5517 Oct 1996 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California
37Loss23–12–1 Chris ByrdTKO8, 0:5723 Apr, 1996 The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan
36Win23–11–1 Mauricio VillegasTKO2, 2:1118 Mar 1996 County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
35Loss22–11–1 Lennox LewisTKO5, 2:5513 May 1995 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, CaliforniaWBC heavyweight title eliminator
34Win22–10–1 James FlowersTKO1, 1:531 Mar 1995 Memorial Auditorium, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
3321–10–1 Eric CurryTKO3, 3:0026 Apr 1994 The Palace, Auburn Hills, MichiganOriginally a TKO 3 win for Butler, changed to a NC
as Butler tested positive for an illegal substance
32Win21–10–1 Jerry JonesRTD1, 3:008 Feb 1994 Country Club, Reseda, CaliforniaJones was unable to continue after round one due
to a severe cut above the right eye
31Win20–10–1 James SmithTKO3, 2:1918 Jan 1994 Civic Auditorium, Omaha, Nebraska
30Win19–10–1 Lawrence CarterTKO1 2:3916 Nov, 1993 Casino Magic, Bay Saint Louis, Mississippi
29Win18–10–1 Tim BullockTKO1 27 May 1993 Biloxi, Mississippi
28Win17–10–1 Jesse ShelbyTKO4 4 May 1993 McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado
27Win16–10–1 Craig Payne7, 3:0026 Mar 1993 Country Club, Reseda, CaliforniaThe bout was halted after round 7 because of an injury
to Payne's eye
26Win15–10–1 Tony WillisTKO5, 2:1523 Feb 1993 Country Club, Reseda, CaliforniaWon vacant IBO Heavyweight title
25Win14–10–1 John MortonTKO5, 2:434 Nov 1992 Country Club, Reseda, California
24Win13–10–1 Tony TubbsKO1, 3:0018 Aug 1992 Bayfront Auditorium, Pensacola, Florida
23Win12–10–1 David DixonDQ4 11 May 1992 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, CaliforniaDixon was disqualified for repeatedly hitting low
22Win11–10–1 Juan Ramon PerezKO1 31 Mar 1992 Country Club, Reseda, California
21Win10–10–1 Sam AdkinsTKO5 25 Feb 1992 Country Club, Reseda, California
20Win9–10–1 Terry VernersKO1 17 Dec 1991 Country Club, Reseda, California
19Win8–10–1 Dominic ParkerKO1 26 Nov 1991 Country Club, Reseda, California
18Win7–10–1 Don AskewKO1 29 Oct 1991 Country Club, Reseda, California
17Loss6–10–1 Kevin FordSD829 Apr 1991 Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California
16Win6–9–1 James Ruffin1, 0:405 Feb 1991 Longhorn Club, Vinton, Louisiana
15Loss5–9–1 Terry DavisDQ2 1 Feb 1991 Richmond, California
14Loss5–8–1 Terry Davis5 14 Dec 1990 Brownsville, Texas
13Loss5–7–1 Oliver McCall1016 Jul 1990 Central Plaza Hotel, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
12Draw5–6–1 Sean McClain1, 1:0710 May 1990 Harrah's Tahoe, Lake Tahoe, NevadaOriginally announced as a disqualification win for McClain
due to repeated low blows
11Win5–6 Vyacheslav Yakovlev612 Apr 1990 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
10Loss4–6 Craig PetersenUD624 Mar 1990 Fairgrounds Arena, Mobile, Alabama
9Win4–5 Tim AdamsPTS45 Mar 1990 Fairgrounds Arena, Mobile, Alabama
8Loss3–5 Sammy SpeechUD616 Feb 1990 Clarion Hotel Ballroom, St Louis, Missouri
7Win3–4 Jerry GoffTKO2 25 Jan 1990 Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana
6Win2–4 Troy JeffersonUD411 Jan 1990 New Orleans, Louisiana
5Loss1–4 James PritchardTKO69 Dec 1989 Biloxi, Mississippi
4Loss1–3 Cleveland WoodsTKO2, 1:481 Aug 1989 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
3Win1–2 Michael Carroll61 Apr 1989 Biloxi, Mississippi
2Loss0–2 Riddick Bowe2, 1:556 Mar 1989 Lawlor Events Center, Reno, Nevada
1Loss0–1 Phil Jackson424 Feb 1989 Biloxi, MississippiProfessional debut