Butterbean headlined an incredible unlicensed Blackpool card, but was handed a devastating punishment.
Eric Esch – known as Butterbean – became an icon in the boxing world for his heavyweight career, which saw him nicknamed as the ‘King of the 4 Rounders’.
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His physique and powerful style saw him pick up a truly incredible KO record, and became an unlikely hero around the globe.
As a result, Esch was invited to travel to the UK to take on British heavyweight Mark Potter in 2008 on an unlicensed card in Blackpool.
It was Butterbean’s second appearance in the UK, having fought Shane Woollas in a professional contest in 2001 at the Conference Center, Wembley which he won by KO inside the first round.
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For the American star, he attracted a huge crowd to the Blackpool venue on the night, as fans fought to get a glimpse of the heavyweight sensation.
But it was not to be a success for the out-of-shape talent whose appearance on British shores ended in a complete car crash.
From the opening bell, it was evident that Potter would get the better of the American who was being outboxed from distance by the quick hands of the Briton.
Potter weaved in and out landing relentless combinations on the American, who simply couldn’t get near his rival.
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Butterbean tried to throw his own shots back using the left hand, but his face started showing signs of real marking.
The breakthrough came in the opener with just two minutes gone as some sharp left hands stunned Butterbean and he began staggering backwards.
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Esch retreated on the ropes and Potter knew it was his opportunity to capitalise as he pounced and pushed him back.
A thumping right hand rocked the head back of Esch before another barrage saw the referee halt the contest before any damage could be done.
Throwback to when cult hero Butterbean knocked down legendary boxer Larry Holmes but still lost the fight
The defeat was certainly a brutal one for the multi-faceted star, but luckily it didn’t count on his professional record.
Potter had 26 fights as a professional during his career and had some stellar pedigree at the top level.
He famously challenged Danny Williams for the British heavyweight title in 2000 but was beaten by stoppage.
His career had come to an official end in 2003 when he was beaten by Michael Sprott, but he continued to fight in the unlicensed ranks.
Potter sadly passed away in 2022 after a long battle with stomach cancer, but his legacy lives on.
Butterbean went on to have three more fights as a professional following his defeat to Potter.
His final outing came in a defeat to Kirk Lawton in 2013, before he chose to hang up his gloves from the professional ranks.
He gave it up in with a record of 77 wins, 10 defeats and four draws, competing against the likes of Larry Holmes and Peter McNeeley.
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Esch struggled with mobility issues and was forced to retire, needing changes to his lifestyle to improve his health.
And he did exactly that losing huge amounts of weight and making an incredible transformation.
Losing nearly 200lbs after ballooning to over 400lbs, Butterbean now looks like a completely changed athlete.
At the age of 55, he teased a comeback to the ring in one final fight after improving his physical health.
He called out YouTube star Jake Paul to the ring and even heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, with whom he could have met in an exhibition.
Esch was simply out of shape and unable to accept the offer in 2020 and later opened up on exactly why.
“I was in that dark place,” he said. “There was no way it was possible.
“I’m alive right now, I’m good to go. And Mike is in great shape, it would be a hell of a fight.
“We’d both come to fight, Mike ain’t going to run from me. That’s where his big mistake would be.
“I sparred with Buster Mathis a lot, so I know Tyson’s style.”
In April of this year, 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.
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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 he is now 0-1 as a pro boxer as a result.
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