Pat Butler
Pat Butler | |
---|---|
Born | Rothley, Leicestershire, England | 13 May 1913
Died | 7 March 2001 | (aged 87)
Nationality | British |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | Welterweight |
Pat Butler (16 May 1913 – 7 March 2001) was a British boxer who won the British welterweight title in 1934.
Career
Born in Rothley, Leicestershire, Butler was a grocer's assistant before he began his professional career at the age of 18 with a points defeat to Len Wickwar in April 1932. In his first year, he lost several fights, but improved results, including a win over Wickwar in October 1933 led to a fight for the Leicestershire Welterweight title, which he won by beating Herbie Nurse. A run of victories, including a non-title fight against British welterweight champion Harry Mason, led to a challenge for Mason's title at Granby Halls, Leicester, in December 1934, which he won with on a points decision.[1][2][3] By this point in his career Butler had fought 79 times, losing 13 fights.[3] He fought several non-title fights in the month that followed and after suffering a first round defeat to Harry Woodward on 10 January 1935, he resigned as British champion, saying "I cannot go on like this. I must give up boxing for a time and take a long rest before returning to the ring."[4] He soon returned, however, but he was hampered in 1935 by injury and illness including a septic arm, an ulcer on his eyelid, and a foot injury which turned septic.[5][6][7] He was due to challenge Gustave Eder for his European welterweight title in March 1935, but the fight was cancelled with Butler needing to take a rest from boxing.[8][9]
Butler retired after defeats to Kid Davies, Jack "Kid" Berg, and Eric Dolby in late 1935. He died in 2001.
References
- ^ "Hood to Meet Butler". Yorkshire Evening Post. British Newspaper Archive. 21 December 1934. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Harry Mason Loses: "Welter" Title for Pat Butler". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 18 December 1934. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ a b "Mason Loses Title: Pat Butler's Narrow Points Success". Hull Daily Mail. British Newspaper Archive. 18 December 1934. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Resignation Accepted". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. British Newspaper Archive. 25 January 1936. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Pat Butler Ill". Derby Daily Telegraph. British Newspaper Archive. 1 February 1935. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Pat Butler Indisposed". Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer. British Newspaper Archive. 18 September 1935. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Pat Butler". Dundee Courier. British Newspaper Archive. 30 July 1935. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Pat Butler and European Title". Derby Daily Telegraph. British Newspaper Archive. 27 February 1935. Retrieved 19 July 2014.
- ^ "Butler M'Call Fight Off". Dundee Courier. British Newspaper Archive. 13 March 1935. Retrieved 19 July 2014.