Butterbean is known as an eccentric figure in combat sports, having stints in both MMA and boxing, but was once on the verge of defeating a legend.
Butterbean has recently overcome his toughest foe yet as he shed 220 pounds to fight for his life after being wheelchair-bound at 500+ pounds.
His recovery is so impressive that he has even spoken of a return to the ring, calling out Jake Paul. Butterbean claims Paul refused to fight him after he called him out years ago.
In his prime, Butterbean held a record of 77-10-4, and was once on the verge of toppling a boxing icon.
‘If I had two more rounds’… Butterbean believes he could’ve stopped Larry Holmes
In 2002, 65-2-3 Butterbean found himself in the opposite corner to 68-6 Larry Holmes, who famously became the only man to stop Muhammad Ali.
Holmes was 52 years old at the time, and Butterbean had never fought more than four rounds.
Holmes was ahead in the fight, but in the final round, a wild haymaker from Butterbean landed, sending Holmes stumbling backwards into the ropes.
A standing eight count was called, and Butterbean, who once dropped a referee, told Bloody Knockout that if he had just two more rounds, he could’ve finished the icon.
“His corner was saying, ‘Do not get close to him. Do not stand there. Do not try to punch. Do not try to swap punches with him.'”
“Larry ran and moved and done what he needed to win the fight. I did catch him in the 10th round and put him on the mat, but it wasn’t quite enough. If I had two more rounds, I would’ve put him out.”
Butterbean weighed 330lbs when he dropped Holmes.
Butterbean’s opponent once broke probation to fight him
In 1996, Butterbean, who disliked Evander Holyfield, KO’d James Baker in just 18 seconds.
According to BoxRec, Baker admitted to taking a dive in a bid to get off of television as soon as possible, owing to the fact he was breaking his probation by fighting in California.
Strangely, Baker had fought just the night before in Missouri, winning a first-round stoppage himself.