Former boxer Butterbean, real name Eric Esch, has revealed his past struggles with sex addiction and severe obesity, which left him bedridden and in a wheelchair. The 58-year-old, known for his four-round boxing matches in the 1990s, spoke candidly about his personal battles in an interview with Mirror Fighting via Lucky Energy.
Butterbean admitted that his sex addiction was 'pretty bad' and attributed it to rejection and bullying at school due to his weight. He said: 'I've been married for a long time and I've always loved my wife, but that was something that I've always had trouble getting over. Now, I'm good. I'm confident in myself now. I don't have that problem. I'm a good boy now.' He added that his wife, Libby Gaskin, is aware of his past addiction.
After retiring from boxing in 2013, Butterbean's weight escalated to over 500lbs, confining him to bed for almost a year and requiring a wheelchair for mobility. He recalled feeling depressed: 'When you can't walk and you can't walk into the store and get something to drink, you do get depressed. I was in bed for almost a year, not got out of bed, just to go to the bathroom. And I ate in the bed.'
Butterbean managed to lose more than 200lbs through a rigorous yoga programme with WWE star 'Diamond' Dallas Page. He said: 'I'm not in a wheelchair no more. I went and moved to DDP for a while, did his yoga programme, and I'm in the best shape of my life right now. I feel better now at 50-something than I did when I was in my 20s.'
Now, Butterbean is preparing for one final boxing match and has called out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. In a promotional clip for his new drink, Butterbean's Knockout Punch, he said: 'Butterbean's back for one more fight. There's only one fighter out there that wants to fight retired, bald guys. Jake Paul, I'm coming for you. I want to fight Jake Paul because he runs his damn mouth too much.'
