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Daily Mail
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Butterbean opens up on his crippling sex addiction and battle with obesity after retiring
Butterbean, the cult-hero boxer whose real name is Eric Esch, has come forward to reveal his past battles with sex addiction. 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.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Butterbean's sex addiction hell that his wife 'knows all about' but he couldn't stop
While Butterbean's battles with obesity since retiring from boxing are well documented, the pugilist also faced a completely different fight against sex addiction stemming from past rejection Butterbean was able to overcome a sex addiction during the peak of his career, highlighting the battles that the Atlanta-born boxer fought outside the squared circle. The now 58-year-old skyrocketed to fame through his unique four-round boxing matches in the 90s, compiling an impressive record of 77-10-4 with 57 knockouts. Tipping the scales at between 300 and 400lbs each time he stepped into the ring, fans far and wide were amazed by his heavy hands and his Goliath stature, as he folded opponents with ease during his heyday. But it wasn't all plain sailing for the pugilist, who admits that some of the world's most dangerous heavyweights weren't the only battles he faced during the peak of his career. That's because Butterbean, who was born Eric Esch, was faced with an addiction to sexual intercourse in the past. Speaking exclusively to Mirror Fighting via Lucky Energy, Butterbean said: "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. "Now, I'm good. I'm confident in myself now. I don't have that problem. I'm a good boy now." Butterbean has previously explained that his addiction stemmed from rejection and being picked on in school due to being overweight, never being asked out for a date. Thankfully, he has since overcome his addiction and has been happily married with his wife, Libby Gaskin, for years. In a separate interview with The Hannibal TV, Butterbean explained: "I mean my wife knows about it so I can talk about it freely, but it was bad. I've overcome that - I mean kind of like, 'Boss, you just got to quit doing it.' Now I'm proud to say I've been very loyal. I mean, I haven't gone out chasing it. I'm good now." Sex addiction isn't the only battle outside of the ring that Butterbean has had to face, however. After retiring from the sport of boxing in 2013, Butterbean's weight continued to rise, to the point where he was bed-bound for a year and needed a wheelchair to move around, weighing more than 500lbs He was also weighed down by depression as a result of his limitations. Speaking about his darkest hours, he said: "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." However, after finding self-belief, Butterbean shed more than 200lbs thanks to a strenuous yoga routine and with the help of WWE superstar, 'Diamond' Dallas Page. He explained: "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." Thanks to his remarkable body transformation, Butterbean is ready to get back into the ring for one last fight before he calls it a day for good with regards to boxing. And 12-1 YouTuber-turned-fighter Jake Paul is on the top of his list of potential opponents. Butterbean has long been vocal about his intentions to go toe-to-toe with Paul, but threw down the gauntlet once more this week in collaboration with Lucky Energy. To promote the launch of his new Butterbean's Knockout Punch flavoured drink with the brand, he took part in a mock-up press conference to challenge Paul to one last tango. In a clip uploaded to social media, he said: "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." Butterbean spoke to Mirror Fighting as part of his collaboration with Lucky Energy. You can find out more about his brand-new Butterbean's Knockout Punch flavour here.
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cult Hero From Past Challenges Jake Paul To A Boxing Match
Butterbean is back and wants to fight Jake Paul. (Watch the video at bottom.) The cult hero boxer, once dubbed the 'king of the four-rounders,' said he's down from about 500 pounds to 285 pounds, has new hips and is no longer in need of a wheelchair. Advertisement Social media star Paul has built a boxing career fighting over-the-hill opponents such as Mike Tyson and recently Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. The 58-year-old Butterbean, whose real name is Eric Esch, wants a piece of that. Host Ariel Helwani pressed Butterbean to make sure he was serious about previous claims he wanted to throw down with Paul (12-1 with 7 knockouts), now ranked 14th by the WBA in the cruiserweight division. 'Oh man, I wanna fight Jake so bad,' Butterbean said. He claimed Paul insulted him years ago, pushing him to regain his health 'until I'm ready to knock him out. And guess what? I'm here.' 'He's been sort of the pot at the end of the rainbow?' Helwani asked. Advertisement 'Exactly,' Butterbean replied. 'Just to prove to myself that if I believe in myself, I can accomplish anything. And to get down to 285 pounds, that's a huge accomplishment, seeing I've been there maybe in the fourth or fifth grade I was 280.' Butterbean fights Doug Phillips during a 1997 match in Atlantic City. Focus On Sport via Getty Images Helwani noted that Paul, 28, 'is hitting pretty hard these days.' 'I hit so much harder than he does,' Butterbean replied. 'That's why it would be such a great fight.' In his heyday, Butterbean was more than a novelty, packing a punch that belied his doughy physique. He had a record of 77-10-4 with 56 knockouts and won the IBA super heavyweight title. He was also former heavyweight champ Larry Holmes' last opponent (and victory). Butterbean was credited with a 10th-round knockdown of Holmes by the referee, but the replay showed Holmes perhaps slipped. Butterbean called Paul's victory over former heavyweight champ Tyson last November 'BS.' Advertisement 'Just because he's an older guy don't mean he couldn't have knocked Jake out,' Butterbean said. 'I, myself, I would take it to him, he wouldn't know what to think. ... I know I could take him. And he thinks he could take me.' Butterbean said he's seeking one final fight ― and he's got a backup plan if Paul should never pan out. He said he'd box former UFC fighter Brock Lesnar if it could be arranged. Butterbean, who last boxed in 2013, also dabbled in MMA but his hip replacements make that a no-go, he said 'I'd rather fight Jake, to be honest, because he runs his mouth a little bit too much,' Butterbean said. 'Like one of those little Chihuahua dogs. I'd like to shut him up.' HuffPost has reached out to Paul's representatives for comment. Fast-forward to 5:35 for the Paul challenge: Related...
Fox News
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Jake Paul faces unusual call out from former boxing champion
The former boxing champion known as Butterbean announced on Sunday he was back for "one more fight" as part of a campaign with Lucky Energy, and he called out Jake Paul. Butterbean, whose real name is Eric Esch, is 58 years old, but that didn't appear to be a problem in the ad he was in. The clip showed the former boxer get up from his wheelchair to call out Paul. "There's only one fighter out there who wants to fight retired bald guys. Jake Paul, I'm coming for you," he said in the commercial posted to Instagram. "… I want to fight Jake Paul because he runs his damn mouth too much." The commercial also took a shot at the Paul brothers' energy drink, Prime, which is a major sponsor in WWE as Logan Paul competes as a wrestler there. Butterbean, 58, was the IBA world super heavyweight champion during his career and won the Elite-1 MMA super heavyweight championship when he tried his hand at mixed martial arts. He was 77-10 as a boxer and 17-10 as an MMA fighter. After he hung up the gloves, Butterbean dealt with chronic pain that hampered his mobility and put him in a wheelchair for about nine years. He worked with WWE legend "Diamond" Dallas Page's yoga program to regain his ability to stand up and walk. Paul has taken the boxing world by storm since he began his foray into the sport. He defeated Julio Cesar Chavez via unanimous decision. It was his first bout since the spectacle with Mike Tyson. Follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
