Boxing legend Butterbean claims he was only rocked once during his combat sports career.
The heavyweight icon – real name Eric Esch – had 126 professional bouts across boxing, MMA, and kickboxing.
However, Butterbean insists he actually fought more than 300 times before retiring in 2013.
The American is proud of his granite chin and claims the only thing that came close to cracking it was a head kick from one of his best friends.
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Butterbean names his hardest-hitting opponent
Butterbean beat Wesley Correira by TKO (doctor stoppage due to a broken arm) when they fought under MMA rules in 2006.
Two years later, ‘Cabbage’ got his revenge when they rematched in kickboxing at the K-1 World Grand Prix.
Correira landed a clean head kick that made Butterbean wobble before falling face-first to the floor.
The 58-year-old wasn’t knocked out, and he managed to get back to his feet, but the fight was called off because he was deemed to be in no fit state to continue.
“There’s nobody out there who I think is gonna be able to hurt me. I’m so tough,” Butterbean said when asked which of his opponents hit him hardest during a recent interview with Bloody Elbow
“I’m not trying to brag on myself, but I could run into a brick wall and stand up and smile.
“I fought a guy named ‘Cabbage’ Correira, and I took a leg kick to the head.
“It’s what they call ringing your bell. I could hear bells. He’s the only one who ever really made me feel like that. He didn’t knock me out. I’ve never really been knocked out, but ‘Cabbage’ is a really tough dude and a really good friend of mine.
“It’s funny how somebody can hit you in the head and rock your world, and now your best friends.”
Butterbean eyes comeback in 2025
Butterbean was confined to a wheelchair for several years after ballooning up to 500lbs in retirement.
Now, he’s lost 220lbs and is ready to prove that you can bounce back from anything by fighting again.
“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,” Butterbean said of his comeback.
“I wanna do it this year. Most definitely this year.”
Jake Paul is at the top of Butterbean’s hit list, but he is also keen on a fight with Brock Lesnar.
It seems unlikely either of them will agree to face Esch, as they have ignored his call-outs.
Still, Butterbean will complete his remarkable turnaround by fighting someone else in 2025.