Boxing sensation Eric “Butterbean” Esch ventured into the world of mixed martial arts, competing in 28 professional bouts. His journey in the cage concluded in October 2011, resulting in a career record of 17 wins, 10 losses, and 1 draw after a decisive head-kick knockout defeat.
Arguably the most memorable win of Butterbean`s MMA career came against James “The Colossus” Thompson at Cage Rage 20 in London, England, during February 2007. Thompson, standing at a towering 6 feet 5 inches, was a formidable opponent known for significant victories over fighters including renowned referee Marc Goddard, UFC veteran Dan Severn, WWE superstar Bobby Lashley, and even the five-time “World`s Strongest Man,” Mariusz Pudzianowski.
Despite Thompson`s impressive resume, the fight against Butterbean was remarkably short, ending in a knockout just 43 seconds into the first round.
Shocking Admission About the Thompson Fight
Almost two decades on from this highlight victory, Butterbean has made a surprising revelation regarding his preparation for the fight against James Thompson.
The 58-year-old recently confessed in an exclusive interview that he essentially did no training whatsoever before traveling across the Atlantic for the bout.
Recalling the fight, Butterbean said, “James Thompson was a really tough dude. It was a really tough challenge for me. The crazy thing is, at that point in my life, I had almost started not believing in myself, and I wasn’t training like I should’ve.”
He added, “I never even stepped in the gym before my fight with James Thompson. If I had trained for that fight, it would’ve been quicker than the first round.”
Butterbean`s Plans for a Comeback
In the years following his retirement from fighting, Butterbean faced significant personal health challenges. He reportedly reached a weight of 500 pounds and was confined to a wheelchair for several years. However, he has since undergone a dramatic transformation, successfully losing 220 pounds.
Now, having regained his health, he is motivated to step back into the ring for one final fight as a testament to resilience.
Speaking about his motivation, Butterbean stated, “I wanna do one more fight to prove to people that no matter how down you get, if you believe in yourself like I believe in myself, you can accomplish anything.”
He expressed a clear timeline for this potential return, saying, “I wanna do it this year. Most definitely this year.”
While YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul is at the top of his desired opponents list, Butterbean also mentioned interest in facing former UFC Heavyweight Champion Brock Lesnar. The identity of his opponent for his first fight since 2013 remains to be seen.
Gareth Pendleton