Latest news with #Butterbean


Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Boxing legend Butterbean, 58, wants to fight Tyson Fury and his DAD John after dramatic weight loss
Jake Paul and a WWE star have also been called out BUTTER THEM UP Boxing legend Butterbean, 58, wants to fight Tyson Fury and his DAD John after dramatic weight loss Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BOXING legend Butterbean wants to fight Tyson Fury and his DAD John after announcing plans to return aged 58. The American - real name Eric Esch - became a fans' favourite during the 1990s for his run of knockouts. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 Butterbean has announced plans to make a boxing comeback Credit: Getty 5 Tyson Fury and his dad John have been called out by Butterbean Credit: Splash During the height of his career he weighed as much as 36 STONE and only ever went past the fourth round once - against the great Larry Holmes. His last boxing bout was 12 years ago but Butterbean has since announced comeback on Instagram having lost a stunning 15 STONE. And he wants to fight two-time heavyweight champion Fury - after a warm-up against his 60-year-old dad John. Butterbean told The Mirror: 'I'd fight the old man first, beat him up, slap around him pretty good. 'And then I'd want to beat the son up pretty bad. I would love to fight Tyson Fury. You know, I was offered to fight his dad. And it's been a while back. 'I'd love to fight him, either one of them. But yeah, Tyson Fury is the one I'd really want. 'His dad would be an easy fight. That'd be a couple-rounder. I'd be like, 'Go out there and just have fun and then get ready for the son.' It'd be a warm-up fight. 'I mean, now that I believe in myself, I can do anything. And since I'm in such great shape, I know I can accomplish my goals.' CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Butterbean's dramatic body transformation came after starring in a reality TV show with WWE great Diamond Dallas Page. The famed puncher used yoga and dietary changes to go from wheelchair bound to competing again. Ageless Irish heartthrob looks completely different as he steps into ring as boxing legend in new biopic In a video posted in July, Butterbean said: "I let myself get knocked down after boxing. "Nobody ever thought I'd ever get out of the wheelchair let alone come back and fight. "But I hit rock bottom and fell and I've got a hell of a lot more to prove. It's official, Butterbean is back." Butterbean has also called out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, 28, and former UFC champion and WWE star Brock Lesnar, 48. His last fight was in 2013, a boxing bout he lost to Kirk Lawton in Australia. Butterbean also ventured into kickboxing, MMA and professional wrestling - even having a stint in the WWE. He returned to the wrestling ring in April in Las Vegas where fans voiced their concern over his slow performance. 5 Butterbean made a wrestling return in April Credit: X @GPWProductions 5 He has lost 15 stone in retirement Credit:


The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Boxing legend Butterbean, 58, wants to fight Tyson Fury and his DAD John after dramatic weight loss
BOXING legend Butterbean wants to fight Tyson Fury and his DAD John after announcing plans to return aged 58. The American - real name Eric Esch - became a fans' favourite during the 1990s for his run of knockouts. Advertisement 5 Butterbean has announced plans to make a boxing comeback Credit: Getty 5 Tyson Fury and his dad John have been called out by Butterbean Credit: Splash During the height of his career and only ever went past the fourth round once - against the great Larry Holmes. His last boxing bout was 12 years ago but Butterbean has since announced comeback on Instagram having lost a stunning 15 STONE . And he wants to fight two-time heavyweight champion Fury - after a warm-up against his 60-year-old dad John. Butterbean told Advertisement READ MORE IN BOXING 'And then I'd want to beat the son up pretty bad. I would love to fight Tyson Fury. You know, I was offered to fight his dad. And it's been a while back. 'I'd love to fight him, either one of them. But yeah, Tyson Fury is the one I'd really want. 'His dad would be an easy fight. That'd be a couple-rounder. I'd be like, 'Go out there and just have fun and then get ready for the son.' It'd be a warm-up fight. 'I mean, now that I believe in myself, I can do anything. And since I'm in such great shape, I know I can accomplish my goals.' Advertisement Most read in Boxing CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Butterbean's dramatic body transformation came after starring in a reality TV show with WWE great Diamond Dallas Page. The famed puncher used yoga and dietary changes to go from wheelchair bound to competing again. Ageless Irish heartthrob looks completely different as he steps into ring as boxing legend in new biopic In a video posted in July, Butterbean said: "I let myself get knocked down after boxing. Advertisement "Nobody ever thought I'd ever get out of the wheelchair let alone come back and fight. "But I hit rock bottom and fell and I've got a hell of a lot more to prove. It's official, Butterbean is back." Butterbean has also His last fight was in 2013, a boxing bout he lost to Kirk Lawton in Australia. Advertisement Butterbean also ventured into kickboxing, MMA and professional wrestling - even having a stint in the WWE. He returned to the wrestling ring in April in Las Vegas where fans voiced their 5 Butterbean made a wrestling return in April Credit: X @GPWProductions 5 He has lost 15 stone in retirement Credit: Advertisement 5 Butterbean has not boxed since 2013 Credit: AFP


The Sun
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Boxing legend Butterbean, 58, wants to fight Tyson Fury and his DAD John after dramatic weight loss
BOXING legend Butterbean wants to fight Tyson Fury and his DAD John after announcing plans to return aged 58. The American - real name Eric Esch - became a fans' favourite during the 1990s for his run of knockouts. 5 During the height of his career he weighed as much as 36 STONE and only ever went past the fourth round once - against the great Larry Holmes. His last boxing bout was 12 years ago but Butterbean has since announced comeback on Instagram having lost a stunning 15 STONE. And he wants to fight two-time heavyweight champion Fury - after a warm-up against his 60-year-old dad John. Butterbean told The Mirror: 'I'd fight the old man first, beat him up, slap around him pretty good. 'And then I'd want to beat the son up pretty bad. I would love to fight Tyson Fury. You know, I was offered to fight his dad. And it's been a while back. 'I'd love to fight him, either one of them. But yeah, Tyson Fury is the one I'd really want. 'His dad would be an easy fight. That'd be a couple-rounder. I'd be like, 'Go out there and just have fun and then get ready for the son.' It'd be a warm-up fight. 'I mean, now that I believe in myself, I can do anything. And since I'm in such great shape, I know I can accomplish my goals.' Butterbean's dramatic body transformation came after starring in a reality TV show with WWE great Diamond Dallas Page. The famed puncher used yoga and dietary changes to go from wheelchair bound to competing again. Ageless Irish heartthrob looks completely different as he steps into ring as boxing legend in new biopic In a video posted in July, Butterbean said: "I let myself get knocked down after boxing. "Nobody ever thought I'd ever get out of the wheelchair let alone come back and fight. "But I hit rock bottom and fell and I've got a hell of a lot more to prove. It's official, Butterbean is back." Butterbean has also called out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul, 28, and former UFC champion and WWE star Brock Lesnar, 48. His last fight was in 2013, a boxing bout he lost to Kirk Lawton in Australia. Butterbean also ventured into kickboxing, MMA and professional wrestling - even having a stint in the WWE. He returned to the wrestling ring in April in Las Vegas where fans voiced their concern over his slow performance. 5 5 5


Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Mike Tyson, Jake Paul and John Fury - Butterbean's three-fight wishlist emerges
Butterbean is back for one last night in the squared-circle after a remarkable body transformation which saw him shift more than 200lbs, and there are several top-tier opponents on his radar Mike Tyson, Jake Paul, and John Fury are among the names that Butterbean hopes to face as he plots a surprise return to the world of boxing. The 58-year-old, real name Eric Esch, hasn't fought since his 2013 TKO loss to Kirk Lawton, and his inactivity has led to other battles on the other side of the ropes for the Atlanta-born bruiser. While he usually weighed in for his bouts between 300 and 400lbs, inactivity saw his mass skyrocket past the 500lb mark, and he subsequently became dependent on a wheelchair for mobility. What followed was also a dark and deep-seated depression that left him bedridden for the best part of a year. But with the help of WWE superstar 'Diamond' Dallas Page and his incredible yoga programme, Butterbean could once again find self-belief and turn his life around - shedding more than 200lbs and feeling fitter now than he did in his 20s. And now, the pugilist is even ready to return to the squared circle for one last dance under the bright lights, throwing down the gauntlet to the likes of Tyson, Paul, and Fury. Here, Mirror Fighting breaks down three opponents that Butterbean named on his radar during an exclusive interview via Lucky Energy... Mike Tyson Talks of a fight between Butterbean and Tyson taking place are nothing new, with whispers of a mega-fight between the two originally emerging in 2020. Butterbean claims that 'Iron' Mike's team initially approached him five years ago for the prospect of a bout, but he ultimately had to dismiss it due to his battles with weight and mental health. He explained: "The reason I turned down, because I couldn't walk. He had a fight fall out and they reached out to me. I don't know which camp reached out, but when you can't walk, you're in a wheelchair, you can't fight." However, after shedding the weight and eyeing a return to the ring, Butterbean has now thrown out an offer to Tyson, 59, who recently made his own comeback to the sport to take on YouTuber-turned-scrapper Paul in November, in a fight he lost via unanimous decision. He explained: "But guess what? I'm not in a wheelchair no more. I went and moved to DDP for a while, did his yoga programme, and I'm in the best shape of my life right now. 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." Highlighting a weakness in the former world heavyweight champion, he added: "You know, Tyson don't have a chin. People don't realise that. Mike cannot take a punch. "He's normally so quick, people don't hit him that much. But I spar with Buster Mathis Jr, they have the exact same style. They've been trained by the same people. And I had no trouble hitting him." Jake Paul Despite running an offer to Tyson, Butterbean has made it incredibly clear that 28-year-old Paul would be his first choice opponent for a return to the ring. The hard-hitting heavyweight has targeted the up-and-comer time and time again since slimming down substantially, claiming that Paul bad-mouthed him when he was in a wheelchair. He said: "As soon as he says yes, I'm ready. You know, I was in really bad shape. I was in a wheelchair for over three years. I couldn't walk. I got over 500 pounds. I was fat and sloppy and couldn't walk, and Jake wanted to talk bad about me then. "So, I decided to get my fat butt in shape. And guess what I did? I'm 280 right now, 285. I've never been under 300 in my life that I know of. And now that I'm ready, he's like, 'Well, dude, you're a legend. I can't fight you right now.' Yeah, buddy. Let's get it going.' On his keys to victory, Butterbean added: "I don't think he's afraid of me, but I think his people know that if he gets knocked out, his career's over. Like, I would knock him out bad. I hit way too hard for him." He continued: "Needless to say, Jake was a joke in the beginning. Just another YouTuber out there trying to prove a point. He's got a lot better. So I wouldn't mind sharing the ring with just to fight him. Not just to shut him out because I think he was worthless, but he kind of p***ed me off." With a record of 12-1 in the squared-circle, Paul has achieved a number of big-name wins over the likes of Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva, Mike Perry and Tyson to name a few. His latest win came in the form of a unanimous decision win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr at the end of June - a man who has previously held the WBC middleweight title. John Fury In a shocking turn of events, Butterbean also called out John Fury, the father of former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury, during his interview, while also revealing that a fight was on the table between the two in the past. Asked about if he would take a fight with the recently retired Tyson, he said: "I'd love to fight him," before turning his attention to John. He continued: "I'd fight the old man first, beat him up, slap around him pretty good. And then I'd want to beat the son up pretty bad. I would love to fight Tyson Fury. You know, I was offered to fight his dad. And it's been a while back. "I'd love to fight him, either one of them. But yeah, Tyson Fury is the one I'd really want. His dad would be an easy fight. That'd be a couple rounder. I'd be like, go out there and just have fun and then get ready for the son. It'd be a warm-up fight. I mean, now that I believe in myself, I can do anything. And since I'm in such great shape, I know I can accomplish my goals." With a professional career between 1987 and 1995 culminating in eight wins, four losses and one draw, John is no stranger to the trials and tribulations of boxing, especially given he has worked as a long-time coach for his son, Tyson. Butterbean has just launched a brand-new flavour of beverage with Lucky Energy in his Butterbean's Knockout Punch. The brand describes the fresh taste as "a tropical mix of pineapple, orange, cherry, with a heavy kick of nostalgia fruit punch."


Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Butterbean's heartbreaking admission about weighing 500lb before one moment that changed his life
Former boxer Butterbean was bed-bound for the best part of a year after finding himself immobilised due to his weight, but the American has opened up on one thing that helped him turn his life around Butterbean has explained believing in himself when the odds were stacked against him was instrumental to overcoming a deep-seated depression. The heavyweight boxer made quite the name for himself in the 1990s and early 2000s, tipping the scales at between 300 and 400lbs for his fights while dispatching of a wealth of big-name opponents through his sheer knockout power. But after retiring from the fight game in 2013 with a professional record of 77-10-4, Butterbean – whose real name is Eric Esch – saw his weight skyrocket to an all time high in excess of 500lbs. It led to him needing a wheelchair for mobility and doctors telling him that he would never walk again. What followed was a cruel depression which left the 58-year-old bed-ridden for the best part of a year, only leaving his room to go to the toilet. Speaking about his darkest hours in conversation with Mirror Fighting via Lucky Energy, the Atlanta-born bruiser said: "It was horrible. My hips were so bad, I couldn't walk. And if you can't walk, you're going to gain weight. I was way over 500 pounds." He added: "A lot of fighters do get depressed. A lot of actors and celebrities, people that are in the public eye a lot do get depressed a lot. People don't realise that. When you can't walk and you can't walk into the store and get something to drink, you do get depressed. "I was in bed for almost a year, not 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." So what changed which allowed Butterbean to crawl out of the hole he was trapped in for so long and undergo a remarkable body transformation which has seen him shed down to an all-time low of 285lbs? According to the man himself, it all came down to self-belief. He explained: "But once I started believing in myself, life is good. I spend more time with my grandkids and I got 10 of them. I got 10 little boogers running around. So life is just really good right now. I'm just blessed." Butterbean also credits his incredible weight-loss journey to former WWE star 'Diamond' Dallas Page and his stellar yoga programme. He explained: "Guess what? I'm not in a wheelchair no more. "I went and moved to DDP for a while, did his yoga programme, and I'm in the best shape of my life right now. 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." It's not just friends and family that have been left in awe of Butterbean's accomplishment in shifting weight and flipping poor mental health on its head either. The legend even claimed that he received a letter from a fan who said that he saved their life after they saw his remarkable change of physique. When asked about his family's reaction to him gearing up for a potential return to the squared-circle in the near future, he replied: "Well, they know if I set my mind to something, that I'm not changing it. And helping other people... "I've got a letter, one letter really just says, it sets in deep how he watched my recovery and he was about to end his life. And because of my success, he goes, 'You know what? I do have something to look for. I have people that care about me and I have a life that I can live if I just put a little bit more effort.' "That meant a lot to me when somebody tells you that just by something you've accomplished made them believe in themselves. That made me feel better. It's like when you cook a really good meal and you get a lot of compliments. It was that same thing." Butterbean has made it no secret that he hopes to have one last dance in the squared-circle before calling time on his boxing career for good, with a number of opponents on his mind including Mike Tyson and Tyson Fury. However, nobody has managed to get his blood pumping quite like YouTuber-turned-pugilist Jake Paul. In a mock-up press conference to promote the launch of his new Butterbean's Knockout Punch with Lucky Energy, Butterbean is seen abandoning the wheelchair he relied on before taking to the microphone to address reporters. He then says: "Butterbean's back for one more fight. "There's only one fighter out there that wants to fight retired, bald guys. Jake Paul, I'm coming for you. I want to fight Jake Paul because he runs his damn mouth too much."