Boxing cult hero Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch is eyeing a return to the ring for the first time in over a decade, with a whole host of high-profile names on his radar for one last fight
07:00, 22 Jul 2025Updated 07:32, 22 Jul 2025
Butterbean wants to go toe-to-toe with the Furys(Image: Martyn Goodacre, Getty Images)
Boxing legend Butterbean has said he wants to “slap around” John Fury ahead of a potential showdown with Tyson Fury.
At 58-years-old, Butterbean is plotting a sensational comeback to the boxing ring after more than 10 years away from the sport, eyeing one final bout in the spotlight. Butterbean hung up his gloves following a 2013 TKO defeat at the hands of Kirk Lawton, ending an illustrious career with a record of 77-10-4 and 57 knockouts.
Already a heavyweight in his heyday, Butterbean tipped the scales between 300-400lbs, but retirement saw his weight soar to over 500lbs, leading to a period where he relied on a wheelchair for mobility and battled severe depression. Now, having slimmed down to 280lbs, Butterbean feels ready to step back into the ring for one last professional fight.
While he’s set his sights on a bout with Jake Paul, who has made waves transitioning from YouTube fame to boxing, Butterbean isn’t short of other targets for his return. In an interview with Mirror Fighting via Lucky Energy, the Atlanta-born bruiser didn’t mince words about his ambitions.
He said: “I’d love to fight him,” when quizzed about taking on Tyson, before swiftly shifting focus to the Gypsy King’s father, John, as a potential warm-up opponent. “I’d fight the old man first, beat him up, slap around him pretty good.
Butterbean would like to take on John and Tyson Fury(Image: Getty Images)
“And then I’d want to beat the son up pretty bad. I would love to fight Tyson Fury.”
The heavyweight boxer also revealed that a bout with John was previously on the cards but didn’t materialise. He explained: “You know, I was offered to fight his dad. And it’s been a while. 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.
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“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 credits WWE sensation ‘Diamond’ Dallas Page for his remarkable turnaround, thanks to a dedicated yoga regimen. He added: “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.”
Tyson Fury hasn’t fought since his back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk(Image: Getty Images)
John, who is no stranger to the ups and downs of boxing, had a decent career in combat sports himself, with a record of 8-4-1 between 1987 to 1995. However, his achievements seem modest when compared to Tyson’s.
Tyson hung up his gloves earlier this year after experiencing the first two defeats of his professional career at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. The two-time world heavyweight champion missed out on becoming undisputed in his weight class when he lost to Usyk in a split decision last May, forfeiting his WBC title in the process.
A rematch in December resulted in another loss for Fury, this time unanimously, against the undefeated Ukrainian. While Fury chose to retire from boxing at the start of the new year, Usyk went on to secure the third undisputed collection of his career by winning the IBF heavyweight belt with a fifth-round knockout of Daniel Dubois on Saturday.
Butterbean spoke as part of his collaboration with Lucky Energy. You can find out more about his brand-new Butterbean’s Knockout Punch flavour here.