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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
A man who, years later, became the champion of the world.<\/p>\n
![\"Eric](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-1785958-1024x690.jpg\")
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<\/p>\n
In an interview with Boxing King Media, Butterbean spoke on the time he inspired one Mexican heavyweight to continue boxing, despite bullying.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was in Mexico fighting, had this little chubby kid come up to me asking if he could get a picture with me and he\u2019s like \u2018yeah, I box, but I\u2019m gonna quit because I\u2019m fat and kids make fun of me and I don\u2019t like it because they pick on me all the time.\u2019 I said \u2018Don\u2019t worry about what they say, they\u2019re never gonna be nice people, but you can change, you can get faster and hit harder.’\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTwenty-something years later, Andy Ruiz<\/a> sent me the picture of me and him together.\u201d<\/p>\n Ruiz became the first Mexican heavyweight world champion when he ruined Anthony Joshua<\/a>\u2018s US debut, stopping him in the seventh round of their fight.<\/p>\n Joshua defeated Ruiz on points in their rematch, after Ruiz turned up without having properly trained.<\/p>\n He has since defeated Luis Ortiz and drew with Jarrell Miller<\/a>.<\/p>\n It\u2019s strange to consider that without the intervention of Butterbean, who dropped Larry Holmes<\/a>, Joshua may have never taken that loss.<\/p>\n Butterbean would fight Tyson Fury and his dad on the same night<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Butterbean said, \u201cFury, I would love to fight him or his dad. I\u2019d fight both of them in the same night.\u201d<\/p>\n Butterbean has previously spoken on fighting the Furys<\/a>, and said,<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019d fight the old man first, beat him up, slap around him pretty good.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then I\u2019d want to beat the son up pretty bad. I would love to fight Tyson Fury<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, I was offered to fight his dad. And it\u2019s been a while. I\u2019d love to fight him, either one of them. But yeah, Tyson Fury is the one I\u2019d really want. His dad would be an easy fight.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019d be a couple rounder. I\u2019d be like, go out there and just have fun, and then get ready for the son. It\u2019d be a warm-up fight. I mean, now that I believe in myself, I can do anything. And since I\u2019m in such great shape, I know I can accomplish my goals.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Eric](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-1128022173-1024x652.jpg\")
Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n