Cape native makes his mark in St. Louis boxing

Cape Girardeau normally is not associated with boxing, but a native of the city is about to receive a nice honor for his work in the Sweet Science.

Butch Wilkinson will be inducted into the St. Louis Gateway Classic Boxing Hall of Fame on Saturday night.

The organization has inducted such notable St. Louis fighters as Leon and Michael Spinks, Archie Moore and Sonny Liston -- world champions all.

That's why Wilkinson told me during our recent telephone conversation that he was "truly humbled."

Although Wilkinson doesn't have much family in this area any more, he said he still knows a lot of people and was pleased that word would be getting out regarding his induction.

The 58-year-old Wilkinson graduated from Central High School in 1968 and then entered the Marines.

After serving in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969, Wilkinson went to college in St. Louis, where he began to fight as an amateur.

Wilkinson moved back to Cape in the late 1970s and said he started his professional boxing career in his hometown.

"I had one fight in Cape," he said. "We opened a gym back then on Broadway with the help of the Elks Club."

It wasn't long before Wilkinson's work took him back to St. Louis, where he has lived for more than 20 years.

Wilkinson said his pro boxing career got going in earnest once he settled in St. Louis for good.

Wilkinson said he compiled a 10-3 record as a pro heavyweight, with 10 knockouts. He said he never lost a fight until he was "over 40."

According to Wilkinson, his most notable fight came against former world contender Tex Cobb in 1993 during Cobb's comeback. Both men were in their 40s for the fight in St. Louis.

Following his career in the ring, Wilkinson served as a boxing referee and judge for a number of years.

Since 1989, Wilkinson has been a boxing inspector for the state of Missouri as he helps make sure all "regulations are in place." He performs his duties at numerous fight cards in St. Louis.

Wilkinson, who said he makes his living working for a mortgage company, is being honored Saturday for his overall contributions to St. Louis boxing.

Wilkinson said his "little" induction speech will highlight two things he is most proud of.

"One, to be a Marine and having fought for my country," he said. "Two, to be inducted in a Hall of Fame with so many other great fighters, to have people think I was a tough fighter."

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The Southeast Missouri State baseball team finally lost its first Ohio Valley Conference series of the season, dropping two of three over the weekend at Murray State.

Friday's series opener was especially ugly as the Redhawks allowed the most runs in program history during a 25-2 romp by the Thoroughbreds.

But Southeast's 9-3 record exactly halfway through its OVC schedule positions the Redhawks in second place. Southeast, 19-13 overall, trails 9-1 Eastern Illinois.

Speaking of Eastern Illinois, the high-flying Panthers -- who are 24-6 overall and ranked 27th nationally -- apparently took out their frustrations on Tennessee-Martin after suffering their first OVC loss to the host Skyhawks in the nightcap of Friday's doubleheader.

The Panthers belted nine home runs in Saturday's 30-3 destruction of the Skyhawks.

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While it's likely Southeast won't receive a resolution for a while, the NCAA Division I Committee on Infractions is scheduled to hear the university's case regarding alleged NCAA violations in its basketball programs this week.

Southeast officials will meet with the NCAA on Thursday and Friday at the NCAA offices in Indianapolis.

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I'm not sure how many players new Southeast men's basketball coach Dickey Nutt will sign Wednesday -- if any -- but things should get interesting once the spring signing period begins that day.

On the women's side, after Southeast signed seven high school seniors early, the program likely will ink a couple more players this spring following the in-season departures of junior college transfers Trevonna Cannon and Daumonique Lenhardt.

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I generally stay out of local politics, but I've got to congratulate Luther Bonds for winning a seat on the Cape Girardeau School Board last week.

I became familiar with Bonds during his two seasons as a high-flying Southeast basketball forward from 1992 through 1994.

Bonds is personable and passionate about what he believes in, which should serve him well in his new position.

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There was speculation that Sikeston's Blake DeWitt might begin the season in Class AAA, but DeWitt's versatility helped land him a spot on the Los Angeles Dodgers' opening-day roster.

In addition to playing second base and third base during his rookie major league season last year, DeWitt added shortstop to his resume this spring.

That makes DeWitt quite a valuable commodity and should help him have a lengthy big-league career.

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Don't forget about Saturday's annual Plaza Tire Capahas auction that serves as a major fundraiser for one of the nation's oldest amateur baseball teams.

A wide variety of items will be auctioned off in the event at the American Legion Hall on Thomas Drive in Cape Girardeau. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., with the auction beginning at 9 a.m.

Marty Mishow is a sports writer for the Southeast Missourian