Butterbean once knocked out a referee and his opponent with one punch.
The boxing legend – real name Eric Esch – became a fan favorite in the 1990s as people flocked to see his extraordinary knockout power.
Standing at 5ft 11in and weighing between 300lbs and 400lbs, Butterbean wasn’t your typical heavyweight – but he still had massive success during his 91-fight boxing career.
Butterbean got his start in combat sports by taking part in the ‘Toughman Contest’ after being convinced by his friends to enter.
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Butterbean floored referee and made opponent quit with one punch
Butterbean became known as the ‘King of the Four-Rounders’ before turning professional in 1994 and quickly amassing a perfect 13-0 record, which came with a bunch of new fans.
In October 1995, he fought 1-1 fighter Pat Jackson, who did better than most by making it out of the third frame on his feet before quitting on his stool.
It looked like the end was near as Butterbean pummelled away with punches at the end of round three as referee Terry Wood watched on.
The crowd smelled blood and got loud. In fact, they got so loud that Butterbean didn’t hear the bell sound and kept punching after the round had ended.
Wood jumped in to separate the two boxers but ended up eating a monstrous overhand right that floored him.
The fighters went back to their corners as Wood was helped back to his feet.
A bruise became instantly visible on the side of his face. It was unclear if a replacement referee would be needed for the fourth round, but Jackson’s next move meant an in-ring official was no longer needed.
Jackson quit on his stool and gave Butterbean his 14th consecutive pro win.
“He just got in the way,” Butterbean said about the referee during his post-fight interview. “If somebody gets in the way, they go down. It wasn’t intentional, but it happens.”
Wood agreed, he said: “It goes with the territory. If you’re gonna get in that ring, you’re gonna get hit.
“The timekeeper gave the ten seconds shout, and I got close to the boxers as you do at that time… They were in the heat of the battle, didn’t hear the bell, and Eric caught me with one.”
Where is Butterbean now?
Butterbean seemingly retired from all forms of fighting in 2013.
The 58-year-old had 126 fights across boxing, kickboxing, and MMA to cement himself as a true multi-sport legend.
During his time on the sidelines, Butterbean’s weight problem became a potentially fatal issue as he ballooned up to 515lbs and started worrying that death may be near.
Thankfully, he’s dropped an extraordinary amount of weight in the past few years and now tips the scale at around 300lbs, which is what he weighed during his peak years.
Now he’s hoping to complete his remarkable journey by lacing up the gloves for one more fight.
“It changed my life, it really did,” Butterbean said about his body transformation.
“Honestly, I thought I had a couple of years left to live. I’m not bulls*******.
“I really forgot who I was, and I pretty much gave up on life.
“Now I believe in myself again. Butterbean is back for one more fight.”
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