Butterbean, or Eric Esch as he’s known outside the ring, has led a colorful life in his 58 years on planet Earth.
The Atlanta native is more than just a former boxer; he’s also made a name for himself in kickboxing, MMA, and professional wrestling – becoming a household name in each discipline. His recent return to the limelight came after an astonishing weight loss of over 200lbs last year, thanks to WWE legend-turned-yoga instructor Diamond Dallas Page.
This dramatic transformation sparked rumors of a potential comeback in the boxing ring, with Butterbean even challenging Mike Tyson and Jake Paul ahead of their scheduled fight earlier this year. While his return to the ring hasn’t materialized yet, Butterbean remains dedicated to maintaining his new physique and the renewed zest for life it has brought him.
Butterbean has video taken down immediately after Mike Tyson’s defeat against Jake Paul
‘I beat a world champion – Jake Paul is now ranked higher than me after Mike Tyson win’
But who is the popular combat sports sensation renowned for his size and power? Here, we break it down…
Butterbean never reached the top tiers of boxing and MMA but was a household name among fighting fans. However, after his 19-year sports career, Celebrity Net Worth estimate that the heavyweight is only worth around $481,000.
Since retiring from the ring in 2013, the former boxer has turned his hands to woodworking, blossoming into an artisan whose creations are now available for purchase online. In addition to crafting wood, he keeps fans engaged by promoting Butterbean-branded merchandise and memorabilia across his social platforms, boasting nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram.
Butterbean stirred up attention in 2022 with a callout targeting Jake Paul and Mike Tyson during a discussion about who’d be ideal for his comeback match. He explained: “I’m not a typical boxer, I go out there to fight. I want to knock somebody out. Jake Paul or Mike Tyson. Jake Paul runs his mouth too much, he’s never fought nobody, I would love to fight him.”
Also revealing an unexpected friendship with Tyson, he said: “I think people would like to see me and Tyson go at it, which would be a hell of a draw. Me and Tyson are actually friends but I don’t mind fighting friends.” Paul also stayed in his crosshairs after his win over former UFC champ Mike Perry in July, with the retired fighter taking to TikTok to offer a juicy $2million gauntlet to the YouTuber-turned-pugilist.
He said: “Hey Jake Paul, would you fight me for $2m? Winner takes all.” While neither dream match is on the horizon yet, Butterbean’s persistence in driving up hype for a potential fight continues unabated, his latest challenge bolstered by clips of him training on the pads.
Before Paul’s narrow victory against Tyson last month, he teased on TikTok with a caption that read: “Getting ready for my next opponent… I hope you’re ready @JakePaul @Netflix @MikeTyson.”
Following his retirement from the ring, Butterbean’s weight soared as excruciating pain hampered his mobility, forcing him to rely on crutches and a mobility scooter just to get around. Tipping the scales at an astonishing 36.7 stone (515 lbs) when he first crossed paths with Page in 2022, the ex-fighter initiated changes to turn his health aroundand achieve the remarkable results he did.
Come August 2023, Butterbean triumphantly declared he had shed a whopping 15 stone (212lbs) – a feat that not only enabled him to walk without assistance for the first time in years but also jog. His commitment to intense yoga sessions and sticking to a gluten and dairy-free diet helped catalyze a significant transformation in his life.
Reflecting back in 2022 during a chat with the Sun, he confided that without serious modifications to his mental and physical health, the end seemed near. He said: “I went through a stage where I was looking at the end of my life – not that I was going to kill myself.
“But in my life I was getting down, I was way overweight and just feeling down. I didn’t know if I had a couple of years to live or not.” He continued, revealing his motivation for change: “I took a challenge to accept a docuseries or a reality show with Diamond Dallas Page and I’ve been here the past four months. And it’s given me more energy and life since I was fighting regularly. But now, I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life.”
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