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Butterbean got beaten up by 52-year-old heavyweight icon Larry Holmes but scored controversial knockdown
Butterbean was taken to school by an ageing Larry Holmes in 2002. The former heavyweight world champion was well past his best at 52 years old, but he still had enough left in the tank to outpoint the barrelling 334lbs boxer. Butterbean scored a last-gasp knockdown, but the punch landed on Holmes’ shoulder Butterbean – real name Eric Esch – had made a name for himself knocking out journeymen boxers. At the time, he was 65-2-3 but hadn’t fought anyone of note outside of Peter McNeeley, who is best known for getting blasted out by Mike Tyson in ‘Iron Mike’s’ first fight back since being released from prison. Esch’s promoter, Bob Arum, had insisted on his client strictly being a four-round fighter over fears he would have a ‘heart attack in the ring’. However, the Holmes clash was booked as a ten-rounder. The showdown was set up to settle an old score between the pair after Holmes had written in his autobiography, ‘Against the Odds’, that boxers like Esch had no place in the sport. Holmes, who reigned supreme over the heavyweight division during the late 70s and early to mid-80s, was noted for having one of the best jabs in boxing and won the fight almost completely with his lead hand. For ten rounds, Holmes jabbed Butterbean’s head off, occasionally slipping in a right hand for good measure. Esch struggled to lay a glove on Holmes for the entire fight but was credited with a controversial knockdown in the final 15 seconds. Following an exchange in the middle of the ring, Holmes was knocked off balance and held up by the ropes, prompting referee Chris Woolesen to start a count. At first, it appeared he had been grazed by a left hook. GettyHolmes proved to be too much for Butterbean, even at 52 years old[/caption] However, replays showed that Esch hadn’t landed a shot and that it was, in fact, a slip. Reacting to slow-mo footage of the incident, Commentator Al Bernstein remarked: “You know what? That’s not a knockdown. “I stand corrected. I thought the punch had landed and it was a knockdown, but I stand corrected. “That should not have been a knockdown. Larry Holmes just tripped backwards and fell.” In the end, the 10-8 round did not affect the result, with all three judges scoring the fight in favour of Holmes with scorecards of 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93. It marked the rugged veteran’s final fight as a professional. Holmes is one of the greatest heavyweights of all timeGetty “This is my song,” he said. “The fat lady is singing. I’m out.” Shortly after losing to Holmes, Butterbean began competing in kickboxing and MMA alongside his boxing exploits. He eventually hung up his gloves in 2013 with 126 professional fights (97-24-5) across all three disciplines. However, he has since teased the idea of making a remarkable return to the ring to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
Butterbean was taken to school by an ageing Larry Holmes in 2002.
The former heavyweight world champion was well past his best at 52 years old, but he still had enough left in the tank to outpoint the barrelling 334lbs boxer.
Butterbean – real name Eric Esch – had made a name for himself knocking out journeymen boxers.
At the time, he was 65-2-3 but hadn’t fought anyone of note outside of Peter McNeeley, who is best known for getting blasted out by Mike Tyson in ‘Iron Mike’s’ first fight back since being released from prison.
Esch’s promoter, Bob Arum, had insisted on his client strictly being a four-round fighter over fears he would have a ‘heart attack in the ring’.
However, the Holmes clash was booked as a ten-rounder.
The showdown was set up to settle an old score between the pair after Holmes had written in his autobiography, ‘Against the Odds’, that boxers like Esch had no place in the sport.
Holmes, who reigned supreme over the heavyweight division during the late 70s and early to mid-80s, was noted for having one of the best jabs in boxing and won the fight almost completely with his lead hand.
For ten rounds, Holmes jabbed Butterbean’s head off, occasionally slipping in a right hand for good measure.
Esch struggled to lay a glove on Holmes for the entire fight but was credited with a controversial knockdown in the final 15 seconds.
Following an exchange in the middle of the ring, Holmes was knocked off balance and held up by the ropes, prompting referee Chris Woolesen to start a count.
At first, it appeared he had been grazed by a left hook.
However, replays showed that Esch hadn’t landed a shot and that it was, in fact, a slip.
Reacting to slow-mo footage of the incident, Commentator Al Bernstein remarked: “You know what? That’s not a knockdown.
“I stand corrected. I thought the punch had landed and it was a knockdown, but I stand corrected.
“That should not have been a knockdown. Larry Holmes just tripped backwards and fell.”
In the end, the 10-8 round did not affect the result, with all three judges scoring the fight in favour of Holmes with scorecards of 98-91, 97-92 and 96-93.
It marked the rugged veteran’s final fight as a professional.
“This is my song,” he said. “The fat lady is singing. I’m out.”
Shortly after losing to Holmes, Butterbean began competing in kickboxing and MMA alongside his boxing exploits.
He eventually hung up his gloves in 2013 with 126 professional fights (97-24-5) across all three disciplines.
However, he has since teased the idea of making a remarkable return to the ring to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
