James Butler indicted on second-degree assault charges

Walter C. Donovan, III

07.02 - Super middleweight James "The Harlem Hammer" Butler has been formally indicted on second-degree assault charges by the New York District Attorney's office resulting from his sucker-punch of Richard Grant at the end of their ESPN2 televised bout on November 23, 2001.

Butler's behavior that night was despicable. His punching Grant after it was announced Butler had lost a lopsided, 10-round unanimous decision was nothing short of horrifying. But being the maximum sentence for such a charge in New York State is seven years in prison, does "The Hammer" deserve to be locked up in the slammer? I say no.

November 23, 2001 will forever be an infamous day for James Butler. Not only was he coming off a rather embarrassing points loss to Sven Ottke in a bid for the IBF super middleweight title on September 1st, he had just lost to Richard Grant for the second time in his career. Two slick opponents in a row? What was his management thinking?

Once again, I'm not excusing James Butler for what he did. But these were not the best of times for him, and it just so happened his darkest hour was televised before a nationwide audience. Richard Grant dominated Butler. He outpunched, outslicked, and even taunted him during their ten round bout. "The Hammer" was hitting air all night and being slapped around in the process. For the second straight time, he was embarrassed by a slick boxer, undoubtedly a tough pill to swallow for a tough, rugged fighter. Butler came into the bout being rated #8 by the IBF. With a few easy comeback wins against tailor-made opposition, he could've landed another title shot against either WBC champ Eric Lucas or WBA titlist Byron Mitchell. A battle with WBO kingpin Joe Calzeghe also would've been fun to watch. Nevertheless, Butler would soon destruct those prospective plans with one ill-fated swing of his fist to the back of Grant's head.

I don't know what went through Butler's mind that got him to that point of violent impulsivity. I only know what I saw. I saw a thoroughly humiliated man commit a less-than-desirable act. Is he the first to have committed a wrongful act in the face of devastation? Granted, his wrongful act was of a more violent and bizarre nature. But how about a little compassion for Butler, an overall decent person who had, as is the title to Pink Floyd's 1987 album, "A Momentary Lapse of Reason"? Usually, I take more of a Draconian approach when I criticize those who do bad things. I might still have used that approach, had I not been fortunate enough to meet James Butler at the Oscar De La Hoya-Shane Mosley press conference at New York's "Tavern on the Green" in April 2000.

I was in the same room with Bob Arum, Cedric Kushner, Oscar De La Hoya, and other boxing luminaries who barely acknowledged me (maybe they saw the unnerved look of a desperate job-seeker in my eyes and didn't want to be bothered). But one person did acknowledge me: James Butler. He looked so strong and imposing, but he was the nicest guy. I couldn't believe that a guy could look that big and weigh less than me. He shook my hand, I told him I was impressed with his wins over Bryant Brannon and Arthur Allen, and a smile crept on his face. "Thanks," he said. "What's your name?"

"Walter," I said. Few others there asked for my name. "Did you see that fight on Showtime?" He was referring to the Bruno Girard-Byron Mitchell WBA super middleweight title rematch from that past weekend. "Yes," I said.

"Well, that title has my name on it." Both of us smiling, we shook each other's hand and went our separate ways. Based on this brief encounter, does this mean I know James Butler well? Absolutely not. Does he deserve to be reprimanded for sucker-punching Richard Grant? Yes, I believe so. But indictment on second degree assault charges, with the possibility of jail time? That's simply too harsh to phathom. Actually, the hypocrisy is rather sickening.

I don't want to single anyone out, but I've seen many athletes and celebrities who constantly tamper with the law, who commit less-than-desirable acts and get away with them. I'm sure you know of someone who fits this description. Usually, a slap of the wrist is all that's given, and then it's back to multi-million dollar paydays and front cover fame.

So, before you condemn James Butler and indefinitely ostracize him from the boxing world, be mindful of the questionable examples that are continuously set by those who are supposedly better people than him. Besides, there's no such thing as a perfect Hammer.