- Sports fans have expressed concern about American boxing icon Butterbean
- The heavyweight has undergone an incredible weight loss journey
American boxing icon Butterbean, real name Eric Esch, has sparked concern among fight fans after making an unlikely return to the ring at the age of 58 after losing an incredible 14 stones (90kgs).
Butterbean, a former IBA super heavyweight champion, pro wrestling and kickboxing star, has gone on an incredible weight loss journey in recent years after revealing that he at one stage tipped the scales at roughly 26 stones(233kg).
He credited his remarkable transformation to working out with DDP Yoga, a program started by former WWE wrestler Diamond Dallas Page.
Butterbean last fought in 2013, when he took on against Kirk Lawton in Australia – injuring himself in the process.
The beloved heavyweight, who has decided to get back into combat sports, stepped into the ring last weekend to wrestle Minoru Suzuki in Las Vegas.
The wrestling legend clearly took it easy on Butterbean, who appeared to be struggling physically at times throughout the match.
Boxing icon Butterbean has sparked concern among fight fans after making an unlikely return to the ring at the age of 58
The cult hero heavyweight was a former world champion during his prime fighting years
Butterbean was known to fight at more than 400 pounds but is now barely over 300
Fans expressed alarm after seeing footage from the event.
‘What the hell is going on,’ posted one X user.
‘Why was Butterbean wrestling,’ demanded another.
Another fan referenced a Johnny Knoxville quote from Jackass: ‘Is Butterbean ok?’
In 2022, Butterbean claimed that he was on the verge of a boxing comeback – and wasted no time in calling out YouTuber Jake Paul.
‘I’m at fight weight. You’ll have to listen to my podcast coming up to find exactly how much weight I have lost, but I haven’t weighed this in over 20 years so that’ll give you an idea,’ he said.
‘The big announcement is I’m gonna fight one last fight. It’s gonna be one year from now. Jake Paul, if you’re ready, I’m here for you my friend.
‘Let’s get it on, me and you Jake Paul.’
The boxing legend credited his physical transformation to working out with DDP Yoga
Butterbean issued a challenge to wrestling star Brock Lesnar in February, saying he is ‘ready to come back’ into the ring
In early 2025, the heavyweight icon issued a challenge to wrestling and UFC star Brock Lesnar.
Lesnar is the only man to have won the heavyweight championships in WWE, UFC and the NCAA.
‘I’m going to do it one more time’, Butterbean said.
‘I would love to fight Brock Lesnar in a boxing match.
‘He runs his mouth, he’s a big guy, it would be a great fight and something that people would want to see’.
‘It’s going to be a real fight, not this grab the money and run thing. I don’t want an exhibition, I want a real fight’.
‘I just had a deal with the owner of energy drink company Lucky Energy, which are going to help make it happen’.
