Brian Butler: “Friday night will be a very proud moment in my life”

 
COMING up on Friday night on Barry Michael’s “Under The Dome” card at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne, is a very special evening for one of Australia’s premier amateur, and now professional boxing trainers, Brian Butler.

 
Butler took time out of his busy schedule and spoke exclusively to Aus-Boxing about his career in boxing, his successful gym, and the pleasure he has got over the years of mentoring young teenagers into productive and successful adults.

 
Four of those pupils who have turned professional, will take to centre ring this Friday night on what will be a very proud moment in Butler’s long career training and mentoring fighters.

 
Brian Butler has long been associated with churning out some of the very best amateur fighters in the country. The stand out is recent Commonwealth Games Gold Medallist, Andrew Moloney, who will be fighting this Friday night.

 
His career as one of the nation’s best amateur trainers is something quite remarkable. Turn to the National Golden Gloves Championships back in 2012. Butler had a massive eighteen amateurs compete, twelve of them won gold medals.

 
When asked on the secret to his success, Butler had this to say.

 
“I just try and create a good environment for my fighters,” said Butler in an exclusive interview with Aus-Boxing. “I just feel that a happy environment in any sense, creates success. The team work very hard and they all push each other to greater heights.”

 
“They all strive to be successful in whatever they do and that what I try and encourage. It has paid dividends over the years, I just love watching them grown – not only as adults – but as boxers as well,”

 
Butler is a strong believer in mentoring his boxers in other aspects of life as well. Over the years, he still gets calls from boxers that have come through his system, thanking him for his guidance, long after they have bought houses and married. Butler says they are his proudest moments of all, seeing his fighters turn into successful adults as a whole.

 
“Yeah, I still get calls from guys I trained,” Butler explained.

 
“They stay in touch. Don’t get me wrong I love seeing my guys perform and succeed in the ring, but at the end of the day, if they are successful in life at whatever they do, and having them give thanks to me for it, well, it makes it all worthwhile” Butler humbly said.

 
Butler contributes a lot to the kids lives. He partners up with local employers in the area to give a lot of his kids a start in life whilst they are transitioning out of school and into the workforce.

 
One such partnership is with a local plumbing company whom he says have helped out with apprenticeships in the past. He also is a big advocate for those that are still in school to keep up high standards, often warning them if grades drop, they risk losing their place in the gym.

 
Butler’s method is a fair but firm one he explains.

 
“I try and take the tough love approach,” Butler continued. “A lot of kids those days lack discipline and work ethic unfortunately,”

 
“I try and teach them a work ethic and a discipline through boxing so they can transform this to other aspects of their lives. I can be tough on them but there is always a pat on the back and rub on the head when all is said and done”.

 
It is this approach that has reaped rewards for him. Butler runs a very successful gym in Croydon, in the outer east of Melbourne.

 
East End Boxing was started in 2000 after Butler decided to follow his dream by opening his own gym after being second in charge at Murray Thompson’s Fighters Factory in Melbourne. His business is thriving through conducting fitness classes seven days a week as well as training top amateur and professional fighters.

 
This Friday he says will be one of his proudest moments to date. Having four fighters on the same night at Barry Michael’s “Under the Dome” promotion, being Andrew Moloney, Jason Moloney, Jayde Mitchell and Paul Watson, who will all be gloving up under Butler’s guidance.

 
“Yeah look it is a great event and a great time for the gym,” said Butler in closing. “It is just fantastic to see these boys all on the same card.”

 
“I’ll be pretty knackered by the end of the night but that’s the way it goes. It’s going to be a special moment for myself and the gym”

 
Butler doesn’t feel comfortable taking credit. He said he is as only as good as the people that he has around him. I think he should be congratulated for his contribution to boxing and the effect he has had on the kids that have walked through his door.

 
Brian Butler, a job well done.

 
 
Words: Dan Smart (Follow Dan Smart on Twitter @dansmart76)
Photo: Damian Brierty/Visual Delight