Boxer James Butler: biography, achievements, interesting facts

James Butler is a middleweight boxer from the United States of America. He received the nickname "Demolition hammer from Harlem" for his unprincipled and tough manner of fighting. Butler also became famous throughout the world for his unsportsmanlike behavior and strange antics, which are brutal.

Biography of the Harlem Sledgehammer

James Butler, Jr. was born on December 18 in 1972 in Harlem (New York, USA). At the age of 14, he started boxing at the local sports section in Harlem. Two years later he began to take part in various amateur tournaments, where he often won prizes. With the advent of the professional league began to perform in the weight category "second middle". James Butler had several distinctive features in terms of combat. He had a left-sided stand with the style of a puncher. The boxer had good potential. Many experts predicted a great career, in which there will be many victories and belts. Spectators and fans gave him the nickname "Demolition hammer from Harlem." This was due to the fact that the athlete was characterized by extreme aggression and cruelty towards his opponents.

James Butler: the scandal that occurred at the charity battle against Richard Grant

In November 2001, there was a battle between two outstanding fighters - James Butler and Richard Grant. This boxing match was of a charitable character, the box office of which went to the aid of survivors after the events of September 11 (the tragic terrorist attack in America, during which the World Trade Center-Twin Towers suffered).

During the fight, both fighters showed excellent technique and sports excitement. Some rounds were left for Butler, and some for Grant. However, in the last round, Richard Grant conducted a series of successful attacks, thanks to which he received several additional points from the judges. The unanimous decision on points was won by Richard Grant. The winner began to celebrate his triumph, after which he went to the opposite side of the ring in order to thank his opponent for the battle. This is the traditional etiquette of all existing martial arts. Richard went up to Butler and held out his hand, expressing his respect and respect. But James Butler spit on all the foundations and customs of boxing etiquette and instead of responding to reach out, he simply dealt a powerful blow to Richard's jaw with his bare hand (without a glove). Naturally, from such a side punch, Grant fell on the ring platform and for a long time could not come to his senses. As it turned out, Richard received serious injuries to his face and a jaw fracture.

This act shocked the entire sports community. Earlier, such gestures fans and fans of boxing have not seen. As a result, Grant was immediately hospitalized. As already mentioned, the boxer remained with a broken jaw, a bitten tongue and a small concussion of the brain. This unsportsmanlike act, James Butler crossed his own career. On his account there were only 25 fights, including 20 wins (12 by KO) and 5 defeats. He was disqualified, and after being arrested and sentenced to a prison term.

The thirst for revenge or not?

Few people know that Grant and Butler had previously met in the ring in 1997. Then Richard won a unanimous decision with a significant advantage on points and, apparently, became the most important enemy for a psychopath from Harlem. However, having won against Butler for the second time, he became a victim of James's unsportsmanlike behavior and received a side kick in the jaw without a glove.

The charge of assault and murder of American journalist Sam Kellerman

The punishment in the form of imprisonment in no way affected the world view and behavior of James Butler. The ex-boxer did not take the path of correction and did not draw any lesson from the incident. The world sports community forgot about Butler for a while, but he soon reminded everyone about himself again. Strangely enough, this time in an even more cruel, "repulsed" and manic form. Here's what about him wrote in the media:

"On October 20, 2004, American boxer James Butler was convicted by a Los Angeles court and sentenced to 29 years in prison for the brutal murder of journalist Sam Kellerman.On October 17, 2004, the body of American sports journalist Sam Kellerman was found in his home in Hollywood. The investigation revealed that Kellerman died 5 days before the murder was committed, about 30 strokes with a heavy blunt object on the head and other parts of the body. "

The investigation revealed that the perpetrator of this incident is James Butler. The details of this case are not advertised, like Butler's motives. However, in this regard, there are many versions and assumptions that can not be refuted or confirmed by facts.

James Butler: the ring is not a motivation, or the story of a mean scoundrel

In this story, it is remarkable and surprising that Kellerman and Butler were good friends. 30 days before the murder Butler settled in the house of an American journalist who wrote about boxing. Also, the 29-year-old Kellerman had a brother, Max, who was conducting an analytical telecast about a boxing called ESPN.

As it became known later, Sam Kellerman was helping Butler in every way after the events with Richard Grant. Kellerman repeatedly appealed to James to cancel the suspension and prison term. As a result, even after the prison term of the boxer Kellerman gave Butler his own housing and supported the talented boxer both morally and financially. James's sneaky act can not be justified by anything - he took the life of a good man, besides, as some claim, he took a large amount of money with him and disappeared.

In conclusion about Butler

In the world boxing there were many cases that are far from sports behavior and its etiquette. So, we can recall the story of the mass brawl at Medisson Square Garden in 1996, the murder of Sonny Liston 5 years after the loud contractual duel, the corrupt Richard Steele and much more. All these listed events are motivated only by making money. After all, where there is boxing, there is corruption, big money and the mafia.

However, the history of James Butler does not fit into certain definite frames. This boxer fully corresponds to his nickname "Mad Hammer of Harlem" both in life and in the ring.