Butterbean’s son will seemingly not be following in the footsteps of his famous father.
The boxing icon shot to fame during his professional boxing career in the 1990s and became a fan favourite across the globe with many stunned by his ability in the ring, given his large physique.
The unorthodox heavyweight, real name Eric Esch, ranged between 300lbs-430lbs (21 stone – 31 stone) in his career.
Butterbean started out fighting on the ‘Toughman Contest’ scene in Texarkana, Arkansas where he was initially pushed to enter by his friends in the early 1990s.
The four-round amateur format had a maximum heavyweight limit of 400lbs (28½ stone), which Esch exceeded at the time, meaning he had to go on a diet and drop some of his iconic flab.
His nickname came from the butterbeans he ate as part of the diet.
After becoming champion in this competition and building a reputation as ‘King of the Four-Rounders’, Butterbean took the opportunity to turn professional in 1994.
In just his second pro fight, Esch found himself starring on TV.
He began a unique career boxing regularly in four-rounders across the USA, usually knocking out journeymen opposition and becoming a cult figure as he did so.
His career ended in 2013, with his most notable fights seeing him stop Mike Tyson’s former rival Peter McNeeley in 1999, and lose on points to legend Larry Holmes in 2002.
Over the weekend, Eric’s son Matthew Caleb Esch took to the ring in an attempt to follow in his father’s footsteps.
The 5ft 9ins youngster made his professional debut against Joshua Brice, but did not get the result he desired.
Esch was knocked out in round two of the four-round contest after taking a brutal body shot from Brice.
He could not recover and sat out the referee’s count, so is now 0-1 as a pro boxer as a result.
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News Summary:
- Butterbean’s son loses pro boxing debut by second-round KO from brutal body shot
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