After years of silence and speculation, former boxing sensation Eric “Butterbean” Esch is back in the spotlight-and this time, he’s serious.
The 58-year-old has his sights set on a return to the ring, reigniting talks of a long-rumored bout with Mike Tyson while also calling out social media star Jake Paul for a showdown.
Rumors of a fight between Butterbean and Tyson first surfaced in 2020, but the idea was quickly dismissed when Butterbean publicly confirmed his retirement. What fans didn’t know at the time was just how dire his physical condition had become.
“I couldn’t walk,” Butterbean recently admitted in an interview with The Daily Mirror.
“I was in a wheelchair. When you can’t walk, you can’t fight.”
At his heaviest, the former heavyweight hit 515 pounds and was told by doctors that he might never walk again.
Confined to bed for nearly a year, Butterbean battled crippling depression, admitting he was barely able to get up except to use the bathroom.
“When you quit believing in yourself, you can’t do anything,” he said.
“I didn’t even leave the bed.”
From wheelchair to warrior
That all changed when he linked up with Diamond Dallas Page-former WWE wrestler and founder of DDP Yoga. Butterbean committed himself to a new regimen and dropped over 200 pounds. Now down to 285 lbs, he claims to be in the best shape of his life.
“I feel better now in my 50s than I did in my 20s,” he declared, crediting the program with giving him a second lease on life.
With his health restored, Butterbean is ready for what he says will be one last fight. And at the top of his list? Mike Tyson.
“People don’t realize it, but Tyson doesn’t have a chin. He’s just so fast no one hits him. I sparred with Buster Mathis Jr., trained by the same people, and I had no trouble landing shots.”
Despite Butterbean’s enthusiasm, Tyson has insisted that he’s done with professional fighting, especially after his recent bout with Jake Paul in 2024 left him injured and reflecting on retirement. Yet Butterbean isn’t short on backup plans.
His alternate target is Jake Paul himself, who holds a 12-1 record and has claimed victories over fighters like Anderson Silva and Julio César Chávez Jr. Butterbean has repeatedly called Paul out over the years, blaming him for mocking his weight during his lowest point.
“I was over 500 pounds and in a wheelchair. He talked bad about me then. So I got in shape-and now he’s backing off.”
To further hype his comeback, Butterbean has partnered with Lucky Energy to launch his own drink flavor, “Butterbean’s Knockout Punch,” described as a tropical fruit punch with a nostalgic kick. In the ad campaign, he issues a bold challenge.
“There’s only one fighter out there who likes beating up retired, bald guys-Jake Paul. I’m coming for you.”
Whether either fight materializes remains to be seen, but one thing is certain-Butterbean’s comeback story is already a knock-out.
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