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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 Neilson in 1998.

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 (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) 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 (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, 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.	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

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".

• 1967 births
• Boxers from California
• Heavyweight boxers
• Living people
• Boxers from Louisiana
• People from Bogalusa, Louisiana
• American male boxers
• 20th-century American sportsmen