Eric Esch

Eric Esch, a retired American professional boxer, also known as "Butterbean," had a long and successful career in the ring that spanned over 18 years, from 1994 to 2013. During his career, he fought in a total of 90 professional fights, winning 76 of them. Out of those 76 victories, he secured 57 knockout wins, proving that he had an incredibly strong punch. Despite the impressive figure, he had 10 losses and 4 draws, which accounted for most of the fights he participated in.

Born on August 3, 1966, in Atlanta, Georgia, Eric Esch began his professional boxing career in 1994 at the age of 28. He made his debut in the ring against Tim Daniels, winning the fight via a four-round PTS. Esch's early career was marked by success as he went on to win 14 more consecutive fights, 10 of which were via stoppage, including his fights against Salvador Farnetti and Rodney Phillips, among others. His wins led to his catapulting in the boxing world, positioning himself as one of the most-promising professional boxers of his generation.

In 1995, Eric Esch suffered the first defeat of his career against Mitchell Rose, losing the fight via a second-round TKO. This ended his 15-fight win streak, bringing an end to his remarkable start in the ring. However, Esch proved to be resilient and went on to win more fights, even securing several notable victories in the process, such as those over Richard Davis, Ed White, and Peter McNeeley, among others.

Esch had a record of 76-10-4 when he retired from professional boxing. He had two losses via knockout, which showed that while his punches were undoubtedly powerful, he was not invincible in the ring.

Beyond his professional boxing career, Eric Esch's achievements also extended to other combat sports, including kickboxing and mixed martial arts. In 2003, he began fighting regularly as a kickboxer and mixed martial artist, notably participating in K-1 and Pride Fighting Championships. His combined record for all these combat sports was impressive, indicating that his skills went beyond just the boxing ring.

Eric Esch's fighting style was simple but effective, relying heavily on his strength and powerful punches to knock out his opponents. As a heavyweight fighter, Esch's physicality was always a source of amazement, with his towering height of 5'11" and colossal weight of 378 lb. However, despite his size, he was a surprisingly nimble fighter, quickly moving around the ring and using his weight to his advantage when required.

Despite Esch's undeniable success in the ring, he never managed to win any professional boxing titles. He neither had any title wins nor defended any titles, a disappointment for his fans who expected him to win more as his career progressed. Nevertheless, his popularity as a fighter never waned, making him one of the most recognizable faces in the boxing world.

Beyond his combat sports career, Eric Esch was also a well-known television personality, having appeared on several programs and referenced on many others. While he retired from combat sports in 2013, Esch continues to be fondly remembered and celebrated by boxing fans worldwide.

Eric Esch is married to Libby Gaskin and has three children, sons Brandon and Caleb, and a daughter, Grace. Both of his sons used to be mixed martial artists, following in their father's footsteps. In 2018, Esch opened a family-run restaurant in Jasper, Alabama, called Mr. Bean's BBQ. He had a previous restaurant that was closed due to Esch's travel commitments at the time. Despite his achievements in the ring, Eric Esch's greatest legacy is the impact that he made on the boxing world as a formidable and unforgettable fighter.

Eric Esch Fight Record