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Athletes
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Name: Alonzo Butler
Career Record: click
Alias: Big Zo
Nationality: US American
Birthplace: Nashville, TN
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
Born: 1979-10-30
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6' 3"
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Professional Career
Born October 30, 1979, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Alonzo “Big Zo” Butler was the first of three children born to Sharon and Alonzo Butler. After his parents divorced, Butler was predominantly raised by his father in a notoriously tough neighborhood on the west side of College Hill Courts in Chattanooga.
With his infectious smile, Butler was well liked by his teachers and peers at Chattanooga City High School. He was never involved in drugs or alcohol like many of his peers. Butler has always been a gentleman.
Butler is a great athlete, so good in fact that he was once rated as one of the ten best athletes ever to come out of Chattanooga. Butler was an All-City football player and wrestler. He signed a football scholarship with MTSU but returned home, having never played for them.
Introduced to the sport of boxing in 1997 by Joe Smith of Chattanooga Westside Knockouts Boxing, Butler was known as a gifted athlete but not as a hard worker. Smith felt Butler had potential but had trouble getting him to focus on his training.
“Zo was a child in an adult’s body,” said Smith. “He would come a few days to workout and then we may go several days and not see him. He took a lot of time and energy. Zo had very few fights as an amateur but won most of those. He could really hit hard as he can now.”
Not wanting this talent to go to waste, Smith, in 2000, introduced Butler to the Knoxville’s legendary boxing trainer, Ace Miller. It was decided then that Butler would move to Knoxville, turn professional, and train under Miller at Golden Gloves Arena in Chilhowee Park.
Miller trained Knoxville’s own “Big” John Tate to the World Heavyweight Championship Title in October 1979. Smith feels Butler is now right where he needs to be.
“Were it not for Ace Miller Zo would be dead or in jail right now,” said Smith. “I hope Team Butler can take him to the top.”
The 6-foot-3, 253-pound Butler is on his way. He holds a 22-0-1 record with 17 knockouts and the Mid-South Heavyweight Title. He made his national television debut on ESPN2 on February 17, 2006 scoring a 3rd round knockout over Terry Porter. Butler also has a six-round decision over a previous World Heavyweight Champion, Otis Tisdale.
Considered one of the most promising heavyweights in the country, Butler wants to bring the Heavyweight Championship back to Tennessee and its people. He carries this championship drive in the community as well. Butler has become a visible role model in the community, speaking to the youth of East Tennessee about values, respect, and responsibility.
Butler has two children: a daughter, Jazlyn and a son, Ali.
Butler vs Walton Photos - February 16, 2007 - Wynn Las Vegas - Butler wins UD 10
Click on an image to view it larger.
Could Butler be the next great American hope? - February 13, 2007
By Joe Tessitore
Special to ESPN.com
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 14 August 2008 )
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