Eric Esch: Last News

Boxing legend Butterbean says he's ready to return to the ring following a dark battle with weight gain and depression.The 55-year-old - who last fought in 2013 - says he struggled to cope with life away from the sport and quickly ballooned to a whopping 35 stone (490lbs). He was offered the chance to face Mike Tyson two years ago when the former heavyweight champion came out of retirement, but had to turn it down due to the appalling state of his physical and mental health.He was heading for an early grave before former WWE star Diamond Dallas Page turned his life around by getting him back in the gym and putting him on a gluten and dairy free diet - and now he says he's ready to fight again.READ MORE: Boxing legend Butterbean overcame sex addiction that was 'crazy'"I went through a stage where I was looking at the end of my life - not that I was going to kill myself, but I was getting down, I was way overweight and just feeling down," Butterbean told The Sun."I took a challenge to accept a docuseries or a reality show with Diamond Dallas Page and I’ve been here the past four months.

Muhammad Ali - but Larry Holmes didn't get everything his own way in his final career fight against Butterbean.'The Easton Assassin' was 51 when he stepped into the squared circle one final time in 2002, taking on the notorious heavyweight over 10 rounds in Virginia. And despite Holmes eventually taking a unanimous decision, fans weren't left lamenting a one-sided contest.In the sixth round especially, Holmes found himself well and truly on the ropes, backed into the corner as Butterbean, real name Eric Esch, threw his bombs.