Butterbean opens up on his crippling sex addiction and battle with obesity after retiring
Speaking to the Mirror, the 58-year-old admitted his own weight problems, past rejections and sudden fame fueled his addiction in the 1990s and 2000s.
Butterbean has now conquered this demon and he remains married despite his infidelities but now admits 'it was pretty bad.'
'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,' he told the Mirror.
'Now, I'm good. I'm confident in myself now. I don't have that problem. I'm a good boy now.'
Butterbean and wife Libby Esch have three children, including a pair of sons who have forayed into mixed martial arts, although both were well shy of the 400-or-so pounds the elder Esch fought at in his boxing days.
Teased for his weight as a child, Butterbean channeled that frustration into Toughman contests – truncated boxing matches that often relied on larger 16-ounce gloves and other safety measures.
The events had a fringe, amateurish feel for much of the 1990s. But, as Butterbean continued winning, the rotund former former construction worker out of Texarkana soon turned pro, ultimately earning the nickname of 'King of the Four-Rounders.' In fact, promoter Bob Arm later convinced IBA commissioner Dean Chance to give Butterbean a belt as champion of the non-existent 'super heavyweight division.'
Butterbean never actually defeated a ranked opponent, although he did lose to 53-year-old former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes in 2002.
Although he continued to be a media presence, including stints in various wrestling circuits, Butterbean's weight increasingly became a problem.
'When you can't walk and you can't walk into the store and get something to drink, you do get depressed,' said Butterbean, who admittedly needed a wheelchair at one point as he surpassed 500 pounds.
Eric 'Butterbean' Esch during an interview with host Jay Leno on May 10, 1996
'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.'
These days, Butterbean is down more than 200 pounds – something he credits to his friend, wrestling legend 'Diamond' Dallas Page, who introduced him to yoga and a number of other healthy habits.
'I went and moved to DDP for a while, did his yoga program, and I'm in the best shape of my life right now,' Butterbean said. 'I feel better now at 50-something than I did when I was in my 20s, which is insane. I can't explain it, but the Fountain of Youth, I dove in it and I come out so much better.'
Butterbean is retired, but he'd consider one comeback fight: Jake Paul.
"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 previously fought and defeated a 58-year-old Mike Tyson.
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