Boxing legend Paul Buttimer is still in love with and very committed to his sport

RUNNING the lonely streets and suburbs of Cork at 4am on Christmas morning would to many people back in the 90`s have been sheer madness. 

However, these were sacrifices experienced by dedicated boxers who wished to make their dream of participating in the Olympics a reality.

The name Paul Buttimer is legendary is Cork boxing parlance.

He won four Irish Elite Titles. 

He was an Olympian in Barcelona in 1992 and has been involved in amateur boxing for nearly fifty years.

At 57 years of age now, Buttimer is as committed to the promotion of the sport as he ever was.

The halcyon days of his spectacular career were as an Elite boxer in the eighties and early nineties.

The Northside Boxing Club situated in the Sunbeam Industrial Estate is run today by Buttimer.

Upwards of one hundred and twenty young athletes vie for weekly training sessions at the thriving club.

Paul in recent years has worked closely with the Cork County Boxing Board, and has made this venue available to the Board for the organising of both Leagues and County Championships. 

He is also a committed family man married to Usa, they have three children together.

Earlier this year Paul lost his father John. 

They were close friends and enjoyed a long sporting relationship, where John also acted as a coach to Paul working alongside the great Albie Murphy the Sunnyside B.C. coach.

However, Buttimer was also quick to pay tribute to the late Jimmy Murphy who was his first coach, at the Old Togher Boxing Club.

Outside of boxing, Paul Buttimer is well known on the roads of Cork City and County as a taxi driver. 

He works long hours in the business, and yet can find time to look after family and run a very pro-active boxing club. 

Pressed on how he achieves this combination successfully he said, “It’s down to strict time management."

As an underage and juvenile boxer, Buttimer was very successful. 

He won many County Titles Munster Championships and was no stranger to the venue with the ‘famous ring’ on Dublin’s South Circular Road known as the National Stadium.

Described by many as brash and cocky, Paul however, could back up his enthusiastic remarks with a boxing skill set, fuelled by an array of rapid-fire punching power. 

Buttimer travelled throughout Europe and the World as an international boxer. 

He always made a huge impression in every bout he contested. 

He was fearless in the ring and always fought to the final bell. Paul Buttimer was a great ambassador for amateur boxing.

During his many battles in the ring he was renowned as a polished stylist whose ring craft verged on the uncanny. 

One of the quintessential fights of Paul’s young career took place in March 1979. 

It was during the Cork County Boxing Championships, which were held in the Beamish Room at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. 

In the juvenile final, Buttimer then boxing for Togher BC took on Sean Murphy of the Glen BC. 

This was a real Northside v Southside scrap. 

From the moment of the first bell, the fight was full on and you could feel the tension in the room. 

The roaring and cheering ramped with each swing and jab. 

In the middle of the second round which was now toe to toe from each boxer, there came a ferocious whooshing sound from the back of the room, a keg of stout had blown its cap, the content`s shot up to the ceiling and spayed across the floor, it was as if oil had been struck, there was pandemonium amongst the crowd.

However, the boxers continued regardless. 

They fought all through the drama, and provided one of the greatest bouts of Amateur Boxing witnessed for a long time. 

Murphy got the split decision. He later retired prematurely while Buttimer would go on to distinguish himself internationally.

On Friday, 17th January 1992, Paul Buttimer won the National Flyweight Elite Title defeating Damean Kelly, Holy Trinity. 

Buttimer was sure he was now on the bus to the Barcelona Olympics, but the IABA then announced five boxing trials would take place. Despite the skullduggery of the IABA who regularly majored in this activity Buttimer got through following another victory over Kelly this time 20-18.

Paul Buttimer went on to represent Sunnyside and Cork as an Irish Olympian in Barcelona. 

This was a great occasion for Ireland as Michael Carruth won Ireland`s first boxing Gold Medal. 

Irish people throughout the world will never forget this occasion and Buttimer had the distinction of been part of that Irish historic Olympic team.

Buttimer as a boxing athlete had a great career in the ring. He loves the sport with a passion, since his retirement he has made a phenomenal contribution to Amateur Boxing in Cork, producing a European Gold Medallist and a conveyer belt of County Munster and National Champions.

A HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR READERS.