Resurgent Butler to Face Morton at Country Club

Heavyweight Lionel Butler of Los Angeles, in the midst of what he calls his second boxing career and coming off a devastating knockout of former champion Tony Tubbs, shoots for his eighth consecutive knockout tonight at the Country Club in Reseda against John Morton.

Morton, of Louisville, Ky., is a career opponent, having stumbled to a 10-21 record.

Butler was headed down the same path, being pummeled on a regular basis after turning pro in 1989. He lost 11 of his first 18 bouts (with one draw) while fighting without benefit of a trainer and for a manager who stacked Butler against top fighters from the start.

In his second pro fight, for example, Butler fought Riddick Bowe and was stopped in the second round.

Early in 1991, however, Butler signed with Ten Goose Boxing of Van Nuys and, for the first time, got a trainer, Joe Goossen. Butler (13-11-1) since has reeled off seven knockouts in a row, including a one-round KO of Tubbs on national television Aug. 18.

His bout against Morton is scheduled for 10 rounds.

Also on the card, which begins at 7:30 p.m., is a scheduled eight-round middleweight bout matching Chris Sande (14-3) of Las Vegas against Otis Pimpleton (5-5-2) of Palmdale. Also, Kenny Whack (10-1-1) of Los Angeles faces Eric McNair (6-9-1) of San Diego in a scheduled six-round middleweight bout.