Lionel Butler

Lionel Butler (born July 25, 1967) is an American former professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2010. Despite never holding or challenging for a world title from any of the central four sanctioning bodies (WBC, IBF, WBA, WBO), he is best known for his 1995 fight with Lennox Lewis in a WBC heavyweight title eliminator.

Butler turned professional in 1989, losing his debut to future contender Phil Jackson. In his second fight, he was knocked out by future undisputed heavyweight champion Riddick Bowe. Butler struggled early in his career, going 6-10-1 in his first 17 fights.

However, Butler's fortunes changed in 1991 as he began a 16-fight undefeated streak, which included wins over former WBA heavyweight champions Tony Tubbs and James "Bonecrusher" Smith. During this run, he defeated Tony Willis to capture the IBO and California heavyweight titles in 1993. Butler's streak was halted later that year when he tested positive for marijuana, resulting in a six-month suspension and the loss of his titles.

In 1995, the boxing world held its breath as Butler, then ranked #2 by the WBC, faced off against the formidable Lennox Lewis in a title eliminator. The stakes were high, and the tension was palpable. However, Butler, who had come into the fight out of shape at 261 pounds, was unable to overcome Lewis's strength and was knocked out in the fifth round.

Following the loss to Lewis, Butler could not regain his previous success. He won the WBF heavyweight title in 1997 but suffered defeats to rising heavyweights Chris Byrd and Michael Grant. In 1998, he unsuccessfully challenged Brian Nielsen for the IBO heavyweight title, losing by first-round knockout.

After a three-year hiatus, Butler returned to the ring in 2002, winning four consecutive fights and showing the world that he still had what it took to be a champion. However, his comeback was not without its challenges. In his fifth bout, he was knocked out by Andre Purlette, marking a setback in his journey. Despite this, Butler's fighting spirit remained strong, and he made another brief comeback from 2009 to 2010, going 1-2 before retiring for good following a loss to Damian Wills on June 12, 2010.