Career
He is perhaps best known for his 1995 bout with Lennox Lewis. Butler made his professional debut on February 24, 1989 in a losing effort to future contender Philosophy 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 we was subsequently stripped of both heavyweight titles as a result. 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.
In 1998, Butler would challenge the undefeated Danish boxer Brian Nielsen for the IBO heavyweight tile, 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 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.
