Butterbean, the legendary boxer whose real name is Eric Esch, has recalled knocking out Jackass star Johnny Knoxville in a department store stunt, leaving him with vertigo for six weeks. The scene, titled 'Department Store Boxing,' featured in the first Jackass movie released in 2002.
In an exclusive interview with Mirror Fighting via Lucky Energy, Butterbean, now 58, said he initially thought the call to appear in the film was a prank. He agreed to knock out Knoxville, who asked him directly. 'I said, 'Okay.' And later he tells me, he goes, 'I really got scared then.' He said he don't get scared much. He said, but when you agreed to knock me out so quick, he goes, 'I got terrified,' Butterbean recalled.
The fight lasted around 10 seconds, with Butterbean dropping Knoxville with a flurry of hooks. After allowing Knoxville to land a right cross, Butterbean knocked him out cold with a right hook, leaving him snoring on the floor. Knoxville was taken to hospital for stitches.
Butterbean added that Knoxville suffered vertigo for six weeks after the knockout. 'I asked Johnny, I go, 'Do you want to rematch?' And he said, no. He goes, 'I had vertigo for six weeks after that.' He goes, 'I couldn't even walk towards stand up without getting sick,' Butterbean said. Despite the incident, they remain good friends.
Butterbean, who weighed between 300 and 400lbs during his prime, has since undergone a remarkable weight-loss transformation, shedding 200lbs through yoga and exercise. He is now plotting a final fight, with Jake Paul at the top of his list of targets.
