Eric Esch, more commonly known as Butterbean, fought for years in multiple combat sports, but it was in the boxing ring that one of his career highlights occurred.
Butterbean, who retired from boxing with a record of 77-10-4, was known for his size. Despite standing at under 6 feet, Butterbean weighed in at 330 lbs for some of his fights. He has, however, lost a lot of weight in recent years.
Butterbean became well known as a caricature of sorts, with the Butterbean nickname referring to Esch’s flatulence. He has even appeared in television shows and films such as Jackass, where Johnny Knoxville is knocked out by Butterbean in a shopping mall.
Butterbean also knocked out a WWE co-star for real as a ‘punishment’ to a fellow fighter.
Despite his antics outside the ring and comedic nickname, Esch was no joke, knocking down a former world champion and boxing legend in 2002.
Butterbean drops Larry Holmes in farewell fight
Larry Holmes is a legend in heavyweight boxing. With wins over Earnie Shavers, Ken Norton, Leon Spinks, and Muhammad Ali, as well as experience in the ring with the likes of Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, his 69-6 record is truly one to behold.
Holmes’ final fight was in 2002 against Butterbean, and despite winning a unanimous decision against the 330-pound fighter, a moment of controversy occurred in the final seconds of the final round.
Butterbean landed a left hook that sent Holmes slipping backward into the ropes.
Though some suggest this was the result of a slip, the referee began a count, and the 52-year-old Holmes dusted himself off and fought on.
Butterbean defies 500 pound weight to challenge Jake Paul
Eric Esch has spoken out about the impact of living at the size he was, and how his life was on the line when he weighed in at over 500 pounds and had to use a wheelchair to move.
Butterbean told The Sun, ‘I went through a stage where I was looking at the end of my life – not that I was going to kill myself.’
However, this all changed when he signed up for a reality TV show with Diamond Dallas Page, and has now lost over 200 pounds since his life-or-death scare.
Butterbean has been back in the gym training and has even challenged Jake Paul to a fight. He told The Sun, ‘Jake Paul runs his mouth too much, he’s never fought nobody, I would love to fight him.’
Another fighter Butterbean wants to return to the ring for is Mike Tyson, with Esch suggesting ‘people would like to see me and Tyson go at it, which would be a hell of a draw’.