James Butler (boxer)
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James Butler Jr. (b. December 18, 1972 in Harlem, New York) was an American light heavyweight boxer, and former USBA Super Middleweight champion. He had a career record of 20-5-0, with 12 wins coming by way of knockout, and was knicknamed "The Harlem Hammer."
However, his boxing career has been hampered by legal troubles, and Butler has confessed to the murder of sports writer Sam Kellerman, effectively ending his hopes of a boxing career.
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[edit] Biography
Butler started off his career by scoring 18 wins and only 1 loss in the supermiddleweight 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. After losing by unanimous decision to Richard "The Alien" Grant, Butler had his gloves removed and went to Grant's side of the ring for an expected exchange of congratulations. Suddenly, Butler hit the unsuspecting Grant with a right hook to the jaw. Grant's jaw was badly broken. Butler was arrested and charged with aggravated assault.
Butler's last bout was a split-decision loss on August 10, 2004
[edit] Murder confession
On October 12, 2004, writer Sam Kellerman (brother of boxing analyst Max Kellerman) was murdered. (His body was found on October 17). Butler was considered a suspect; he had been friends with Kellerman for ten years.)
On October 20, Butler, accompanied by a lawyer, sought treatment for his alleged bipolar disorder.
Butler was arrested for the Kellerman slaying on October 27, and two days later, he plead 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 coverup. (Coincidentally, Butler fought under the nickname "The Harlem Hammer.")
On July 8, 2005, a Los Angeles judge ruled that there was sufficient evidence for Butler to stand trial on the 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, four months in prison by Superior Court Judge Michael Pastor, according to Deputy Public Defender Jack Keenan. [1]
