Eric Esch, better known as Butterbean, is a name that people of a certain age will know and recognize. As a fighter, at one point, he boasted a record of 65-2-3 when he faced an all-time great in Larry Holmes. Weighing in at over 330lbs for most of his fights while only standing 5-11, he certainly caught people’s attention. He even finished his career at 425lbs. He was featured in video games, appeared in the movie Jackass, and his name became well-known, but let’s delve into the substance behind his 77-10-4 record.
In 1994, Butterbean transitioned into the realm of professional boxing following a triumphant period in the Toughman Contest circuit, which featured amateur fighters. His journey evolved in 2003 as he delved into kickboxing and mixed martial arts, showcasing his skills prominently in K-1 and the Pride Fighting Championships. With an impressive combined fight record of 97 wins, 24 losses, and 5 draws, including 65 knockouts and 9 submissions, he has left a legacy in combat sports and celebrity that likely exceeds his record alone.
Background
Esch embarked on his fighting journey in the Toughman Contest arena in Texarkana, Arkansas, during the early 1990s. His prowess led him to claim the prestigious title of five-time World Toughman Heavyweight Champion, boasting an impressive record of 56 wins and 5 losses, with 36 knockouts. The moniker “Butterbean” stuck when he adhered to a diet primarily comprising chicken and butterbeans to meet the Toughman’s 400-pound weight limit.
His debut into professional boxing occurred on October 15, 1994, in Birmingham, Alabama, where he secured victory over Tim Daniels by decision. Quickly amassing a dedicated following, he earned the title “King of the 4 Rounders”. Reflecting on his rapid rise to fame in a 2008 interview, Esch remarked on his unprecedented television exposure early in his career, a rarity for many boxers. Despite his meteoric ascent, Esch faced a setback when he was defeated in two rounds by last-minute replacement Mitchell Rose on December 15, 1995. Rose later alleged that representatives from Top Rank Boxing had approached him the night before the fight, offering him financial incentive to throw the match.
Undeterred by the loss, Esch rebounded with a remarkable streak of victories, predominantly by knockout. His notable triumphs included a victory over Peter McNeeley. Despite his accomplishments, Esch never managed to defeat a heavyweight contender actively ranked by any of the four major boxing organizations (WBA, WBC, IBF, WBO), although several of his wins and draws by decision were met with controversy.
Peter McNeeley
By far, the biggest and most notable win of Butterbean’s career was a 1st round knockout of Peter McNeely. McNeely was most known for his bout with Mike Tyson in Tyson’s first match after prison. However, McNeely had a record of 45-4 at the time. Two of his losses came at the hands of Tyson and another top heavyweight, Brian Nielsen, who was 46-0 at the time, which made sense. However, the other losses, against Stanley Wright, who was 8-5 at the time and finished his career at 12-12, and Louis Monaco, who was 3-3 at the time and finished at 16-39, did not.
It’s obvious why McNeely was picked to fight Tyson in his first match back. He was a low-level fighter who had padded his record against many losing fighters. There are examples of guys he beat who were 6-30, 8-42, 14-70, 15-41, etc., at the time he beat them. This wasn’t just early in his career but also in the fights leading up to Tyson. The best fighter he beat by record was Ron Drinkwater, who was 19-2 at the time and retired after that fight. The best fighter, however, was JB Williamson, whom he defeated twice and who was 26-13 at the time. Williamson had been the light heavyweight champion a decade earlier before moving up to the heavyweight division. When you delve into the records, this win becomes less impressive.
Butterbean certainly fought many fighters of a similar caliber as McNeely, but overall, he had more substance than McNeely.
Kenny Craven
His second biggest win would come against Kenny Craven, who was 25-14 at the time. He would have two other fights with Craven but lose both of those. Craven didn’t have great wins either, but he fought at a higher level overall, with losses to fighters like Michael Nunn, Vaughn Bean, Henry Akinwande, Michael Nunn, Clifford Etienne, and Oliver McCall.
The Losses
The worst loss came against a fighter called the Cigarette man, which doesn’t bode well. Mitchell Rose, who was 1-7-1 at the time, TKOed a 15-0 Butterbean. His second loss didn’t come until a year later when he was 65-1-2 and faced the more respectable Billy Zumbrun, who was 5-3-1 at the time but finished his career at 27-14-1 and lost in a split decision to Riddick Bowe.
Larry Holmes
Larry Holmes is by far the most notable opponent Butterbean ever fought. For one, it was one of the only non-4-rounders, and Holmes is an all-time legend. Butterbean was able to go 10 rounds with the former champ, who was 52 years old at the time but still active in boxing and had fought real fighters in recent years. It was a respectable showing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Butterbean’s level of fame often outweighed his actual ability in the ring, creating a mismatch between perception and reality. However, he carved out a notable interesting career in boxing, primarily built off his powerful highlight knockouts of handpicked journeymen. While his record may not stack up against the elite of the sport, his memorable moments and unique persona ensured his lasting impact on the world of boxing.
