Butterbean Knocks Out Boxer, Wins MMA Title
- Eric "Butterbean" Esch, a name synonymous with spectacular knockouts and an unconventional physique, carved a unique path through the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts.
- He suffered five consecutive defeats in both boxing and MMA, culminating in a particularly brutal head kick knockout loss to a taekwondo instructor-turned-politician in October 2011, effectively ending...
- Despite the late-career losses, Butterbean's last professional win remains a testament to his knockout power.
Butterbean’s Unlikely Comeback: from Wheelchair to the Ring at 59
Table of Contents
Published August 20, 2025
The Rise and Fall of an Icon
Eric “Butterbean” Esch, a name synonymous with spectacular knockouts and an unconventional physique, carved a unique path through the worlds of boxing and mixed martial arts. Born august 3, 1968, in Jasper, Alabama, Butterbean amassed a professional boxing record of 77-10-4, captivating audiences with his raw power and willingness to engage in thrilling brawls. His moast memorable moment in combat sports arguably came in 1999, when he knocked out professional wrestler Bart Gunn in just 34 seconds at WrestleMania XV.
However, Butterbean’s career wasn’t without its downturns. He suffered five consecutive defeats in both boxing and MMA, culminating in a particularly brutal head kick knockout loss to a taekwondo instructor-turned-politician in October 2011, effectively ending his MMA career as reported by Bloody Elbow. Two years later, in 2013, he retired from boxing after a third straight defeat.
A Final Victory and a Dramatic Decline
Despite the late-career losses, Butterbean’s last professional win remains a testament to his knockout power. In May 2011, he faced Dean Storey for the Elite-1 Super Heavyweight Championship. Storey, with a prior boxing record of 8-16-2, entered the fight as a significant underdog. The first round was largely a grappling affair, but the second round saw Butterbean unleash a devastating left hook that sent Storey crashing to the canvas, securing the championship and marking what would be the final victory of his approximately 300-fight career according to Bloody Elbow.
The Comeback Trail: A Remarkable Turnaround
In a stunning turn of events, Butterbean is preparing for a return to the ring at the age of 59. after years of battling weight issues, he reportedly ballooned to 500lbs and was confined to a wheelchair as detailed by Bloody Elbow. However, through dedication and hard work, he has lost an notable 220lbs and is determined to prove that resilience and self-belief can overcome any obstacle.
“I wanna do one more fight to prove to people that no matter how down you get, if you believe in yourself like I believe in myself, you can accomplish anything,” Butterbean stated in a July interview with Bloody Elbow. He has publicly called out both Jake Paul and Brock Lesnar for a potential fight, though those challenges have so far gone unanswered.