Raphael Butler: "If you haven't heard of me yet... you will!"
 INTERVIEW By Benny Henderson Jr - A.K.A "Big Dog" (Jan 24, 2007) Doghouse Boxing
The name Raphael Butler, 24-3 (19), may not automatically ring a bell in the back of your mind or cause the light bulb to shine bright over your head. He certainly is not a household name in the fight world at this time in his career, but as time goes by and the wins continue compiling up sooner or later you will have to be aware of the twenty-three year old professional pugilist for what he is…a heavy handed youngster with bad intentions for his opposition in the heavyweight division.
Setbacks and shortcomings have hampered his young career from time to time but the good certainly outweighs the bad, and the bad doesn’t seem so dire to the young prospect who considers the setbacks as lessons that have taught him to be a more productive fighter, so far so good.
The 6’3” 250-pound Butler a 2004 National Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Champion, as well as a two-time upper Midwest amateur champion made his debut just a tad short of two and a half years ago, since then the Rochester rising heavyweight prospect has tallied up a respectable record portraying some ump in his game by putting to sleep nineteen of his twenty-four opponents, an unlucky thirteen has fallen victim in the opening round.
Butler has hit a few bumps in the road in his short journey, but has taken every lesson in the ring in his stride, honing his craft to be more successful in the future. Since dropping a unanimous decision loss to Jason Gavern in the spring of ’06, Butler has pounded out seven consecutive victories, six never made it to the judges and in his last outing opening up 2007, Raphael smacked around journeyman Louis Monaco for six rounds until the Coloradoan was disqualified for repeatedly spitting out his mouthpiece. Although flying under the radar this far in his pugilistic travels Butler has remained a busy boxer fighting ten times in ’04, eight times in ’05 and nine more times in 2006, and ‘The Silencer’ plans on continuing bringing the pain in ’07.
So although his name isn’t spoken in every boxing forum around the world or mentioned amongst the elite by the major boxing networks, the twenty-three year old prospect believes in time the world will know Raphael Butler and what he is all about. For now see what the big man had to say about his career and what the future holds for himself, enjoy.
Benny Henderson Jr.: Give your thoughts on your recent win over Monaco.
Rafael Butler: Not much to say about that, he was a tough dude but in the end and me being the way I am, he just couldn’t handle it.
BH: You have been a very busy fighter since making your debut a little over two years ago, but all though you have found some success you are still flying under the radar. When do you feel you will break out from the shadows of the other hot prospects in your division and become known as major player for the fight fans to be looking out for?
RB: My team and I have been talking and hopefully we can start making some moves this year, but, with me there is no rush, I am a young heavyweight so there is no real rush right now. But like you said I cannot keep under the radar forever so we are going to try to make a move this year but if it doesn’t happen there is no rush.
BH: For the ones who haven’t seen you fight how would you describe your greatest assets and abilities as well as your style in the ring?
RB: I’m a boxer-puncher, I try to think my way through fights. I try to expose my opponent’s weaknesses and exploit that as fast as possible. So I would say that my greatest asset is I being able to figure people out real fast.
BH: What inspired you to want to fight?
RB: I’ve been a boxing fan for all of my life but the thing that inspired me to be a boxer that was boredom. (Laughs) I was bored so a buddy of mine brought me down to the gym and at first I did it just to have something to do then I found out I was good at it so I kept on.
BH: Some would look at your record and say hey, this guy has already been beaten three times, two fights he was stopped in and really hasn’t even faced the top of the crop in the division yet. To be honest you would probably be over looked by most of the media and fight fans as becoming a major player in this division due to a few early outcomes in your career. How would you respond to that?
RB: Just wait and see because I’ll be up there. Everybody has to have a loss to be better me think and those losses helped me more than anything. I know that sounds cliché but that is the truth, you learn from everything. Those losses I learned a lot about myself, they helped me grow and to become the kind of fighter that I am now. There is nothing you can gain with winning all the time, I mean obviously it looks good on your record but I would rather have these losses now than when it counts later on in my career.
BH: What can a fight fan expect from Rafael Butler when coming to see you fight?
RB: Some good boxing, quick hand speed and more than likely knockouts. (Laughs) I am trying to learn how to become a more exciting fighter without getting in the brawls, because there is no need for fighting that way if you don’t need too.
BH: What has been the hardest aspect of being a fighter this far in your career?
RB: For me personally dealing with like what you were saying the people talking about the negatives, dealing with that and being professional about it, people have their different opinions though, I just am learning to be professional about all of it. Everybody has their way and not everybody is going to like you.
BH: Your hobbies out of the ring?
RB: Just hanging out with my friend when I can, and I have two nieces and a nephew and I like to visit with them when I can. I am not a real big party person, all that stuff I feel like will effect my career some how so I stay away from it, you can be sober and have fun and staying clean. I just like hanging out.
BH: Is there a message you would like to send out to the fight world regarding you and your future in this division?
RB: Just keep a look out, and if you haven’t heard of me yet you will.
I would like to thank Raphael Butler for his time and thoughts.
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