The heavyweight scene might not have been what it was if not for one kid meeting his idol in Butterbean years earlier.
Eric Esch, more commonly known as Butterbean, retired with a record of 77-10-4, and scored 57 knockout victories in his time as a boxer.
Butterbean also spent time fighting as a kickboxer and as an MMA athlete, and has recently undergone a huge weight loss journey, shedding over 200 pounds after being unable to walk due to his size.
Now healthy and happy, Butterbean has shared the story of how he inspired one other large heavyweight to continue boxing, just as they were on the verge of quitting.
A man who, years later, became the champion of the world.
18 Jan 1997: Eric (Butterbean) Esch trades blows with Curt Allen during a bout at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Esch won the fight with a TKO in the third round.Butterbean inspired young Andy Ruiz to continue boxing years before AJ upset
In an interview with Boxing King Media, Butterbean spoke on the time he inspired one Mexican heavyweight to continue boxing, despite bullying.
“I was in Mexico fighting, had this little chubby kid come up to me asking if he could get a picture with me and he’s like ‘yeah, I box, but I’m gonna quit because I’m fat and kids make fun of me and I don’t like it because they pick on me all the time.’ I said ‘Don’t worry about what they say, they’re never gonna be nice people, but you can change, you can get faster and hit harder.’”
“Twenty-something years later, Andy Ruiz sent me the picture of me and him together.”
Ruiz became the first Mexican heavyweight world champion when he ruined Anthony Joshua‘s US debut, stopping him in the seventh round of their fight.
Joshua defeated Ruiz on points in their rematch, after Ruiz turned up without having properly trained.
He has since defeated Luis Ortiz and drew with Jarrell Miller.
It’s strange to consider that without the intervention of Butterbean, who dropped Larry Holmes, Joshua may have never taken that loss.
Butterbean would fight Tyson Fury and his dad on the same night
In the same interview, Butterbean was asked about the current crop of heavyweights, and revealed that he would love to share the ring with not just one of the fighters, but their father, too.
Butterbean said, “Fury, I would love to fight him or his dad. I’d fight both of them in the same night.”
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images
Butterbean has previously spoken on fighting the Furys, and said,
“I’d fight the old man first, beat him up, slap around him pretty good.
“And then I’d want to beat the son up pretty bad. I would love to fight Tyson Fury.
“You know, I was offered to fight his dad. And it’s been a while. I’d love to fight him, either one of them. But yeah, Tyson Fury is the one I’d really want. His dad would be an easy fight.
“That’d be a couple rounder. I’d be like, go out there and just have fun, and then get ready for the son. It’d be a warm-up fight. I mean, now that I believe in myself, I can do anything. And since I’m in such great shape, I know I can accomplish my goals.”
John Fury held an 8-4-1 record as a pro.