James Butler (boxer)

James Butler Jr. (born December 18, 1972 in Harlem, New York) is a retired American professional boxer who competed from 1996 to 2004. He challenged once for the IBF super middleweight title in 2000, but he is best known for his infamous bout on November 23, 2001.[1] Butler brutally sucker punched Richard Grant after losing the fight and served four months at Rikers Island. In 2004, Butler was arrested for the murder of Sam Kellerman and was sentenced to 29 years and four months in prison.

James Butler Jr.
Statistics
Nickname(s)Harlem Hammer
Weight(s)Super Middleweight
Height6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
NationalityAmerican
Born (1972-12-18) December 18, 1972
Harlem, New York, U.S.
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights25
Wins20
Wins by KO12
Losses5

Biography

Butler started off his career by scoring 18 wins and only 1 loss in the super middleweight division. This led to a title fight against Sven Ottke who beat Butler by unanimous decision.

Butler's next bout earned him infamy on November 23, 2001, at the Roseland Ballroom in Manhattan, New York. The bout was a charity event to benefit surviving New York firemen and police officers of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City and was televised live on ESPN2. Butler faced Richard "The Alien" Grant, a fighter who had decisioned him early in his career. After losing the rematch by unanimous decision, Butler had his gloves removed before the announcement of the winner, Grant then went to Butler's side of the ring for an expected exchange of congratulations. Instead, Butler sucker-punched Grant, nailing a bare-handed right hook to his jaw. Grant suffered a temporarily dislocated jaw and a lacerated tongue that required 26 stitches.[1] Butler was arrested and charged with 2nd degree assault. Butler was later convicted and served four months at Rikers Island detention facility.[2]

Butler's last bout was a split-decision loss on August 10, 2004, to Omar Sheika.

Murder of Sam Kellerman and conviction

On October 12, 2004, writer Sam Kellerman (brother of sports analyst Max Kellerman) was killed at his apartment in Los Angeles. His body was not found until October 17. Butler was considered a suspect since he had been friends with Kellerman for over 10 years.

On October 20, Butler, accompanied by a lawyer, sought treatment for his alleged bipolar disorder.

Butler was arrested for the Kellerman murder on October 27. Two days later, he pleaded not guilty to murder and arson. He was held on $1.25 million bail. Prosecutors claimed that Butler, the only suspect in the case, repeatedly struck Kellerman in the head with a hammer then torched Kellerman's Hollywood, California apartment in an attempted cover-up.

On July 8, 2005, a Los Angeles judge ruled there was sufficient evidence for Butler to stand trial on charges of murder and arson.

On March 27, 2006, Butler pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and arson in the 2004 death of Kellerman. On April 5, Butler was sentenced to 29 years and four months in prison by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, according to Deputy Public Defender Jack Keenan.[3]

Prosecutors speculated Butler was having relationship issues with his girlfriend while also struggling to revive his boxing career when Kellerman asked Butler to move out. A disagreement ensued on how long Butler could stay when he picked up a hammer and killed Kellerman then torched his house.[4]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
25 fights 20 wins 5 losses
By knockout 12 0
By decision 8 5
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
25 Loss 20–5 Omar Sheika SD 10 10 August 2004 Essex County College, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
24 Win 20–4 Dan Sheehan UD 6 4 June 2004 PromoWest Pavilion, Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
23 Win 19–4 Reggie Strickland UD 6 7 May 2004 Farm Bureau Building, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
22 Loss 18–4 Thomas Reid UD 8 27 February 2004 Key Skating Center, Bronx, New York, U.S.
21 Loss 18–3 Richard Grant UD 10 29 November 2001 Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, U.S.
20 Loss 18–2 Sven Ottke UD 12 1 September 2001 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, Germany For IBF super-middleweight title
19 Win 18–1 Jerry Williams UD 8 24 March 2001 Bördelandhalle, Magdeburg, Germany
18 Win 17–1 Jose Spearman TKO 6 (12), 0:59 29 September 2000 Station Casino, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. Retained USBA super middleweight title
17 Win 16–1 Arthur Allen TKO 2 (12), 2:03 24 March 2000 The Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Retained USBA super middleweight title
16 Win 15–1 Bryant Brannon KO 7 (12), 0:55 29 October 1999 Farm Bureau Building, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. For USBA super middleweight title
15 Win 14–1 Merqui Sosa TKO 2 (10), 1:02 16 July 1999 Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, New Hampshire, U.S.
14 Win 13–1 Thomas James TKO 2 (6) 24 June 1999 Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
13 Win 12–1 Jose Hiram Torres TKO 7 (10) 15 May 1999 Leominster, Massachusetts, U.S.
12 Win 11–1 Calvin Moody KO 1 (10) 22 April 1999 Virginia, U.S.
11 Win 10–1 Rufat Baku UD 10 9 October 1998 Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, New York, U.S.
10 Win 9–1 Hector Rosario TKO 6 (8) 11 September 1998 Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
9 Win 8–1 Tim Dendy UD 6 24 March 1998 Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
8 Win 7–1 Knowledge Bey KO 3 (4) 24 January 1998 Elks Lodge, Queens, New York, U.S.
7 Win 6–1 Malcolm Brooks PTS 6 10 October 1997 Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, New York, U.S.
6 Win 5–1 Louis March PTS 4 19 September 1997 Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, New York, U.S.
5 Win 4–1 Robert Muhammad KO 6 (6) 18 June 1997 Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
4 Win 3–1 Gerald Holmes KO 1 (4) 11 April 1997 Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, New York, U.S.
3 Loss 2–1 Richard Grant PTS 4 31 January 1997 Yonkers Raceway, Yonkers, New York, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Derrick Whitley PTS 4 2 November 1996 Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Eddie Johnson TKO 1 (4) 18 October 1996 Bronx, New York, U.S. Professional debut
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References
  1. Wong, Edward (November 27, 2001). ""BOXING; Boxer Barred and Charged For Sucker Punch After Loss"". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved May 28, 2020.
  2. Smith, Tim (February 24, 2004). "A sucker no longer boxer back after punch led to jail, ban". New York Daily News. Daily News L.P. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  3. "Boxer pleads guilty to death of sportswriter Kellerman". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. March 27, 2006. Retrieved September 12, 2011.
  4. "Boxer sentenced to nearly 30 years for killing". ESPN.com. ESPN Inc. April 5, 2006. Retrieved March 8, 2017.
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