Joe Butler (boxer) facts for kids

Joe Butler was a talented African American boxer. He was born on May 18, 1866, and passed away on January 1, 1941. Joe became the world's colored middleweight champion during the 1890s, a time often called the "Gay Nineties." He was born in Paoli, Pennsylvania, and fought most of his matches from Philadelphia. Standing at 6 feet and half an inch tall, Joe was known as "The King of the Middleweights." He was famous for his quick hands and fast footwork. People also knew him as a smart fighter who could either box carefully or fight aggressively.

Becoming a Champion

Joe Butler aimed for the colored middleweight championship. He fought the current champion, Ed Binney, on November 13, 1892. The big match took place in Philadelphia, and Butler won! Ed Binney had previously won the title from Harris Martin, who was known as "The Black Pearl." Binney had also beaten Johnny Banks, "The Darkey Wizard," in an earlier fight.

His Championship Reign

Joe Butler's time as champion was short. He defended his title only once. On February 20, 1894, he fought Frank Craig in Philadelphia. In this match, Joe Butler lost his title to Craig.

Joe Butler's Boxing Record

Throughout his boxing career, Joe Butler had many fights. He won a total of 40 matches. In 33 of those wins, he knocked out his opponent. He lost 23 fights, and he was knocked out 13 times by his opponents. Joe Butler also had three fights that ended in a draw, meaning neither boxer won. Sometimes, newspaper reporters would decide the winner of a fight. Joe had six of these "newspaper decisions," winning two and losing four.