Butterbean reveals how far his life sunk after boxing fame with sex addiction and out-of-control obesity
The former boxer, who also fought in MMA in the 1990s and 2000s, had a combined record of 97-24-5 but has had many more battles outside of the arena where he detailed painful issues behind the scenes.
The 58-year-old admitted that he has been battling obesity, as well as sex addiction that nearly ruined his marriage, he said in a recent interview with The Mirror.
5 Erich 'Butterbean' Esch in a victory over Adam Lawton in 1995.
Getty Images
'I've been married for a long time and I've always loved my wife, but that was something that I've always had trouble getting over,' Esch said. 'Now, I'm good. I'm confident in myself now. I don't have that problem. I'm a good boy now.'
Butterbean also detailed weighing over 500 pounds at one point and being unable to walk.
5 Butterbean celebrates after a 1997 win.
Getty Images
In his prime, Butterbean stood at six feet tall, weighed roughly 378 pounds and fought some of boxing's biggest stars.
Butterbean's rise to fame included a boxing match against Bart Gunn at WWE's WrestleMania XV, a first-round knockout for Esch.
He also showed a willingness to move forward and take the fight to legend Larry Holmes in the legendary heavyweight champ's final fight in 2002. Despite a massive reach disadvantage, Esch scored a knockdown at the end of the 10th and final round, while losing in a unanimous decision.
5 Eric 'Butternbean' Esch looks much better after struggling with obesity.
YouTube CVV Clips
But things went downhill once his fighting career ended.
'When you can't walk and you can't walk into the store and get something to drink, you do get depressed,' Butterbean said. 'I was in bed for almost a year… got out of bed just to go to the bathroom. And I ate in the bed. I mean, I didn't even leave the bed.'
5 Esch became a cult-like hero during his boxing career.
Getty Images
Butterbean has since turned his life around, having lost more than 200 pounds, something he credits to former WCW and WWE wrestler 'Diamond' Dallas Page, who has his own yoga fitness program.
'I'm in the best shape of my life right now,' he said adding that at one point he needed a wheelchair to get around. 'I'm not in a wheelchair no more.'
5 Butterbean on 'The Tonight Show' with Jay Leno.
NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via
Last year, Butterbean revealed that he wants to be Jake Paul's next potential victim.
'Butterbean's back for one more fight,' he said in a social media clip. 'There's only one fighter out there that wants to fight retired, bald guys. I'm coming for you. I want to fight Jake Paul because he runs his damn mouth too much.'
Paul has made a career defeating past their prime fighters in the boxing ring; something that was magnified after he defeated 58-year-old Mike Tyson who could barely stand up by the end of their fight.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
21 minutes ago
- New York Post
Fleetwood Mac's Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham tease long-lost debut album
Cue 'Silver Springs.' Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham are officially reuniting — sort of — after sparking reunion rumors on social media. The musicians have revealed that their 1973 album 'Buckingham Nicks' is getting reissued for the digital age. 11 The album cover for 'Buckingham Nicks.' AP The record will be re-released for the first time in the US since the early 1980s. On Wednesday, Nicks, 77, and Buckingham, 75, released a joint Instagram video of a billboard advertising the album on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, Calif. 11 Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham at the 1998 Grammy Awards. WireImage 'Buckingham Nicks is available for pre-order now, out September 19th. ✨ 'Crying In The Night' is yours now. Listen at the link in bio,' they captioned the post. Fans flipped out over the news, considering Nicks and Buckingham had been at odds in recent years. 'Finally!!! I LOVE Long Distance Winner!!! This is awesome news!!' one person wrote. 11 Stevie Nicks, Lindsey Buckingham, Christine McVie, John McVie and Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac. Michael Ochs Archives 'YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAS! PRAISE THE MUSIC GODS,' a second added. Last week, Nicks and Buckingham posted coordinated Instagram posts that sent social media users into a frenzy. The pair began following each other on the app before Nicks posted a handwritten lyric from 'Frozen Love,' a love song off of 'Buckingham Nicks.' 11 Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham perform at The Staples Center on July 3, 2013. Getty Images The image read, 'And if you go forward …' Shortly after, Buckingham completed the lyric with his own handwritten message that read, 'I'll meet you there.' The duo first met as high school students near Palo Alto, Calif., in the 1960s. Buckingham was in his rock band Fritz, and asked Nicks to join as their lead singer. 11 Mick Fleetwood, Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac perform. Getty Images After leaving the group, they launched their own band, Buckingham Nicks. Their album flopped, however, and they were dropped from their contract at Polydor Records. Soon after, they moved to Los Angeles. 11 Stevie Nicks (L) and Lindsey Buckingham of music group Fleetwood Mac accept the MusiCares Person of the Year award onstage in 2018. Getty Images for NARAS In 1974, Nicks and Buckingham were invited to join Fleetwood Mac but split romantically while recording the band's 1977 album, 'Rumours.' Both exes remained in Fleetwood Mac until Buckingham was fired following a behind-the-scenes altercation in 2018. Buckingham and Nicks weren't the only ones in the band with relationship woes. Around the same time as their late '70s breakup, Fleetwood Mac's John McVie and Christine McVie ended their marriage. 11 Fleetwood Mac in Brussels, Belgium in 1980. Getty Images Nicks went on to write 'Dreams,' while Buckingham penned 'Go Your Own Way' on the group's 'Rumours' album. Over the years, the former bandmates have thrown jabs at one another. In 1997, Nicks told Rolling Stone that she 'resented' the lyrics that Buckingham wrote in 'Go Your Own Way,' with lines insinuating the singer was 'packing up, shacking up' with different men after their breakup. 11 Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks at NBC Studios on April 18, 2003. Getty Images 'He knew it wasn't true. It was just an angry thing that he said. Every time those words would come onstage, I wanted to go over and kill him,' explained the vocalist. 'He knew it, so he really pushed my buttons through that. It was like, 'I'll make you suffer for leaving me.'' By 2018, things came to a head when Fleetwood Mac was honored at that year's MusiCares benefit gala. An argument ensued, ending with Buckingham being fired from the band. 11 Stevie Nicks in 1981. Chris Walter He was replaced by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers guitarist Mike Campbell, as well as Neil Finn. Buckingham and Nicks allegedly didn't talk again until the celebration of life for McVie. The keyboardist died in 2022 at age 79. 'The only time I've spoken to Lindsey was there, for about three minutes,' the Grammy winner told Rolling Stone in 2024. 'I dealt with Lindsey for as long as I could. You could not say that I did not give him more than 300 million chances.' 11 Fleetwood Mac performs. ullstein bild via Getty Images 11 Stevie Nicks at Casa Cipriani in 2024. Getty Images for The Michael J. Fox Foundation In March, Buckingham reunited with another Fleetwood Mac member, Mick Fleetwood. The guitarist sat in on studio sessions with the band's namesake drummer, 78, who is working on a new solo album. Swedish producer Carl Falk spoke about the mini reunion on Threads. 'Slightly unreal moment to sit with Lindsey Buckingham and Mick Fleetwood to play Lindsey the album we have been working on,' he wrote. 'And to see his genuine happiness for Mick to finally do his own album and offering to play guitar and to sing on it. Can't wait to finish this one.'
Forbes
21 minutes ago
- Forbes
The Best Tunnel Fits From The 2025-'26 WNBA Season: All Star Weekend
Stud Budz Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams of the Minnesota Lynx during the 2025 AT&T WNBA ... More All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images The time has finally come—when players from across the league, selected through a fan-driven voting system, unite as the newly crowned All Stars. All-Star Weekend feels a bit like making it to the final rounds of Love Island: you've been voted a fan favorite, there's a prize (well, bragging rights), and instead of romantic challenges, the best duos and trios face off in non-traditional basketball scrimmage. But the main event isn't just the game. The weekend is packed with fireside chats, 3x3 scrimmages, skill challenges, and the always iconic 3-point contest. This year was a bit different, as the main event was pushed over for a whole lot of partying — as seen on Studbudz's live stream. And thanks to the them, many online are saying, 'Studbudz's 72 hour stream has somehow revolutionized sports content [through the]This year, the WNBA brought back WNBA Live—a convention packed with pop-ups and experiences where fans could meet players, shop merch, and win tickets to the game. Alongside the festivities, a seemingly ubiquitous conversation about WNBA salaries also loomed over Indiana and all the weekends' happenings. All-Star Weekend happened to coincide with the period when players, through CBA meetings, were negotiating their contracts,, and more importantly, their pay. For some time, the WNBA has faced a stark pay gap compared to its NBA counterpart. Now, players are advocating for a livable wage and equity that reflects the league's growth. So, it would be remiss not to highlight a favorite look, this time not from the tunnel, but from the Clark wearing a "pay us what you owe us shirt" Wearing black-and-white t-shirts that read: 'Pay us what you owe us. ' Through this, players delivered a fashion moment that was as politically charged as it was culturally resonant Kelsey Plum of the Los Angeles arrives prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge ... More Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Kelsey Plum doesn't stick to a strict uniform, but she clearly dresses for a specific era—maybe even a specific movie—and she's more than ready to join Skylar Diggins in the Matrix realm. Leather jackets may not scream summer, but they never really go out of season. Plum opts for a Loewe leather bomber, complete with an oversized belt buckle that cinches the waist just right. She pairs it with relaxed khakis and the ever-iconic Loewe Puzzle bag in beige. The finishing touch: Sleek, all-black wraparound sunglasses—perfect for her Matrix-style entrance. Stud Budz Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams of the Minnesota Lynx during the 2025 AT&T WNBA ... More All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Natisha Hiedeman and Courtney Williams might've had the busiest schedule of anyone this All-Star Weekend. From streaming every behind-the-scenes moment on Studbudz, partying with just about everyone in the league—including Commissioner Cathy Engelbert—getting the dub' at the All-Star Game, and still finding time to throw on a fit. Williams showed up in a custom, newly dropped Studbudz tracksuit in light pink, perfectly matching her freshly dyed hair. Hiedeman, the other half of Studbudz, opted for a custom Playasociety 'Studbudz' pullover, futuristic Givenchy sunglasses, distressed jeans, and Jordan 5s. But the standout detail? A Louis Vuitton messenger bag. Like, can we bring back messenger bags ? Angel Reese of the Chicago Sky during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse on ... More July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Following what seems to be a league-wide Matrix dress code, two-time All-Star Angel Reese leans into a more business-coded agenda. Still staying true to the all-black, high-shine leather theme, Reese wears a pinstriped leather blazer and trouser set from Amiri. She finishes the look with fine-lined Miu Miu glasses and, controversially, a brown Louis Vuitton bag, but if Angel Reese wants to wear black and brown, Angel Reese can wear black and brown. Kiki Iriafen of the Washington Mystics poses during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge ... More Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Kiki Iriafen is all business, no play—well, except for the 23 minutes she played in the game—in a khaki blazer mini dress and Coach loafers. The dress itself is a standout: a one-button blazer designed to emphasize the structure of the bust and cinch the waist, giving it a sharp, tailored look. She pairs it with a black leather fold-over purse for a clean, pulled-together finish. Kayla Thornton of the Golden State Valkyries poses prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at ... More Gainbridge Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images Bling, bling, bling—dressed like an All-Star and playing like one, Kayla Thornton steps into the orange Nike tunnel in an oversized, crystal-embellished denim-on-denim two-piece. All-Star Weekend is for the star performers, so why not go all out in something shiny and head-turning. Kelsey Mitchell of the Indiana Fever poses during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge ... More Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images A new look for Kelsey Mitchell — she steps out in a reconstructed Nike corset, made from the leather outer layers of Jordan SE sneakers and perfectly suited for the Nike tunnel. She pairs it with a Louis Vuitton monogram pouchette and tie-up stiletto heels that echo the corset's lacing. Paige Bueckers of the Dallas Wings arrives prior to the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge ... More Fieldhouse on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images The internet quickly dubbed this look 'Baby Daddy at the Baby Shower,' but for Paige Bueckers, the 'Unctie' style is basically her uniform. Although the classic striped Burberry monogram suit has traditionally been reserved for baby showers, Bueckers proves it's versatile, and wearale at All-Star Weekend, too. Nneka Ogwumike of the Seattle Storm during the 2025 AT&T WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse ... More on July 19, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images There's hardly a moment when Nneka Ogwumike isn't seen wearing print, with animal print being her go-to pattern for the tunnels. So it makes perfect sense that she would double down on it for All-Star Weekend. Out of the Tunnel, there were too many looks shown by players who weren't All-Stars and it'd be almost remissed to not show them off. So, after the 3-point contest, straight from the hardwood, we piled together our best outfits.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Ozzy Osbourne's Hilarious F1 Interview With Brundle Resurfaces After His Death
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Former Formula One driver and presenter Martin Brundle's hilarious grid walk interview with Ozzy Osbourne from the 2003 Canadian Grand Prix has resurfaced online after Osbourne passed away on July 22nd in the UK. Osbourne was the lead singer of the heavy metal group Black Sabbath, whose battle with Parkinson's disease since 2019 was no secret. He performed with his band for the last time on July 5, marking the end of an era. A crowd of 40,000 fans watched him in Birmingham, with the concert raising £140 million (approximately $190 million), reportedly for charity. Brundle's grid walk interviews with celebrities have been unexpected at times, given the hustle and bustle on the grid just before a grand prix. A video of him approaching Osbourne on YouTube has had fans laughing and paying tribute to the late celebrity. The video shows Brundle trying to make his way through the crowd to reach Osbourne before calling him a "fruitcake." He said: British rock star Ozzy Osbourne chats with Scottish race car driver Jackie Stewart of Jaguar before the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, on June 15, 2003 in Montreal, Canada. British rock star Ozzy Osbourne chats with Scottish race car driver Jackie Stewart of Jaguar before the Formula One Canadian Grand Prix at the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, on June 15, 2003 in Montreal, Canada."I want to have a word with this guy because he's an utter fruitcake, as we all know, and we love watching him on TV." When Brundle does manage to reach him, he asks: "Ozzy, British TV. Good to see you here. "Sharon (Osbourne's wife) had some good news this week, I hear." Osbourne's reply was incomprehensible to Brundle, but he likely said: "I'm good in currently we're writing a musical about the life and times of Rasputin the mad monk, and we just got allowing it to go on Broadway." Brundle replied swiftly, "All right, I'll try and think of a question for that answer. Did you bring the dogs with you?" Osbourne replied: "No they're all at home "sh*tt*ng." Brundle smiled and walked away, saying: "Excellent, thank you very much. I think we'll move on now." Given Osbourne's replies, it is unclear if he was suffering with his well known health conditions or if he was having some fun with Brundle. Fans have reacted to the video, remembering Osbourne after his passing. Some comments are quoted below: A teary-eyed fan: "I'm going to miss him. RIP Ozzy <3" A fan's last tribute: "ALL HAIL THE PRINCE OF DARKNESS!!!! 🦇👑" This fan had an explanation: "Brundle wants to talk to Ozzy because he thinks Ozzy will make a fool of himself. Brundle asks about whats new. Ozzy tells about whats new. Brundle pretends to not have asked about whats new, then preceeds to make fun of Ozzy. Ozzy tells Brundle off in a slightly more polite way than he needs to. Brundle walks away, saying this wasnt very interesting." [sic] Our thoughts are with the Osbourne family at this difficult time.
