Butterbean’s son apparently won’t follow in his famous father’s footsteps.
The boxing icon rose to fame during his professional boxing career in the 1990s and became a fan favorite around the world, with many being stunned by his abilities in the ring, considering his great physical.
The unorthodox heavyweight, real name Eric Esch, weighed between 300 and 430 pounds (21 stone – 31 stone) during his career.
Butterbean began fighting on the Toughman Contest stage in Texarkana, Arkansas, where he was initially pushed to compete by his friends in the early 1990s.
The four-round amateur format had a maximum heavyweight limit of 400 pounds (28½ stone), which Esch exceeded at the time, meaning he had to diet and give up some of his trademark fat.
His nickname comes from the butter beans he ate as part of his diet.
After becoming champion of this competition and establishing a reputation as “king of the four-rounders”, Butterbean took the opportunity to turn professional in 1994.
In his second professional fight, Esch found himself performing on television.
He started a unique career regularly boxing in four-rounders across the United States, usually eliminating journeyman opposition and becoming a cult figure in the process.
His career ended in 2013, and his most notable fights saw him retire. Mike Tyson’s former rival Peter McNeeley in 1999 and lost on points to legend Larry Holmes in 2002.
Over the weekend, Eric’s son, Matthew Caleb Esch, stepped into the ring in an attempt to follow in his father’s footsteps.
The 5-foot-9 youngster made his professional debut against Joshua Brice, but didn’t get the result he hoped for.
Esch was eliminated in the second round of the four-round contest after receiving a brutal body shot from Brice.
He couldn’t recover and missed the referee’s count, so he’s now 0-1 as a professional boxer.
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