Criticism of the rivals chosen by Jake Paul in his boxing career continues and now the controversy takes an even more unexpected turn. Eric Esch, the iconic 58-year-old fighter better known as Butterbean, has issued a direct and blunt challenge to the YouTuber-turned-boxer, claiming he has what it takes to knock him out. This proposal, revealed on Ariel Helwani’s Uncrowned show, adds another layer to Paul’s already controversial career, as he is accused of facing older fighters who are far from their best.
Throughout his foray into boxing, Jake Paul has been a constant target of criticism for selecting opponents who, in many cases, are UFC figures, social media stars, or veteran boxers who are over 50 years old and past their prime. Fans and media personalities such as Piers Morgan have lashed out at him for this strategy.
Morgan, for example, was scathing in his criticism: “You say you’re a killer, I get in the ring with the best people, and you get in the ring with a 50-year-old guy, the guy is literally almost my age. The only real boxer you fought was Tommy Fury, and he beat you.” Butterbean’s proposal fits perfectly into this pattern, reigniting the debate about the legitimacy of his fights.
Butterbean wants revenge
The call to challenge Butterbean is not recent, and seems to have personal roots. “I want to fight Jake really bad. When I was in my wheelchair, Jake said some very nasty things about me,” the veteran boxer told Uncrowned.
Esch’s motivation goes beyond the spectacle. It becomes a promise of self-improvement and personal revenge: “When I started getting back in shape again, I thought, you know what, I’m going to push myself until I’m able to knock him out, and guess what, here I am,” he said.
Butterbean, known for his devastating punch in his heyday, has no doubts about his current power. “I hit a lot harder than those guys (Jake’s recent opponents). That’s why it would be such a good fight. I’ll be honest, the Tyson fight I think was the biggest lie. The fact that he’s an older guy doesn’t mean he couldn’t have knocked Jake out. Myself, I’d face him, he wouldn’t know what to think.”
An attractive fight?
Despite his age and time away from the high-level ring, Butterbean is confident in his ability to put on a show and, more importantly, to surprise Paul. “It would be a good fight. I think it would be a competitive fight for me, but I know I can take him and he thinks he can take me, that’s what would make it a good fight: me knowing I can knock him out and him thinking he can knock me out,” he explained.
Butterbean’s statement, unimpressed with Jake Paul’s recent performances, will no doubt generate more discussion and speculation in the boxing world, which is eyeing the possibility of a fight that would be much talked about no matter what happens.
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