Butterbean Wants Jake Fight: “He Said Nasty Things”

The 58-year-old American former professional boxer and kick-boxer Eric “Butterbean” Esch (77-10-4, 58 KOs) says he’s ready to face influencer-turned-heavyweight Jake Paul (12-1, 7 KOs).

— What’s going on here? You really want to fight Jake Paul?

— Oh, man, I want Jake bad. When I was in a wheelchair, Jake said some nasty things about me.

“Butterbean’s a joke. Butterbean this, Butterbean that,” he said in magazines. And I was like, “Dude, what can I do about it?” Nothing—I couldn’t do a thing.

But when I started getting better, I said, “You know what? I’m going to work on myself until I can knock him out.” And you know what? Here I am.

— So he motivated you?

— Exactly. Just to prove to myself that if I believe in me, I can do anything. Dropping to 129 kg is huge—I haven’t weighed that since, what, fourth or fifth grade? I’m serious.

— Realistically, not long ago you couldn’t even get out of bed: 226 kg, a wheelchair. Jake’s 30 years younger—and he punches pretty hard…

— And I punch way harder than he does. That’s why it’ll be a great fight. I’ll be honest—his fight with Tyson? Biggest load of crap. I know Mike well, but I think it was garbage.

Age doesn’t mean Mike couldn’t have knocked Jake out. Me? I’d beat Jake.

— If it’s not Jake Paul, are you even interested in fighting again?

— I don’t want a comeback career. I just want one more fight. People say, “You’ve nothing to prove,” and that’s true—except to myself. But I’ve gotten so many letters from folks who saw what I did and reached out to ask what they can do now. I gave them hope.

So if I get back in and fight once more, it’ll give hope to even more people—that they can believe in themselves and achieve anything.

— Does this last fight have to be against Jake?

— Not necessarily. I’d love to fight Jake—just to prove my point after all the trash he talked. But I’ve also thought about Brock Lesnar. I’d love to fight Brock.

— Brock? In what discipline?

— Boxing. I’ve got two new hips; MMA’s out, but I’m cleared to box. Either him or Jake Paul.

Honestly, I’d rather fight Jake—he talks too much. Like a little chihuahua, you know? I’d love to shut him up.

— I thought you’d say “Mike Tyson,” since that match was floated for so long but never happened.

— Truth is, after Mike’s fight with Jake, I don’t think it would be competitive. I think I’d wipe him out fast, Esch said.

Photo: Fight News