Boxing legend Butterbean is in 'best shape ever' and wants to fight Jake Paul

Butterbean says he's in the best shape he's been in for 20 years

Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch says he is in the "best shape ever" and wants to fight YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a comeback fight. The heavyweight, now 55, has been retired for almost a decade - hanging up his gloves in 2013 - but in recent months has been getting back into shape by working with former WWE star Diamond Dallas Page, who turned Jake ‘The Snake’ Roberts' life around. Page, who after leaving the ring turned into a yogi, has worked with retired athletes to help them deal with post-retirement pain and get them back on the straight and narrow.

@butterbeankingof4round jake Paul v Butterbean #ddp #boxing #mma ♬ original sound - Eric Scott Esch

It isn't surprising Butterbean turned to Page, as he has a history with WWE, having boxed wrestler Bart Gunn at Wrestlemania XV in 1999. In videos posted across his social media accounts, Butterbean calls out Paul, who is 5-0 since making the switch to boxing. “I’m working with DDP to get up walking and running around again and I’m feeling the best shape I ever have," Butterbean says. "I’m at fight weight. You’ll have to listen to my podcast coming up to find exactly how much weight I have lost, but I haven’t weighed this in over 20 years so that’ll give you an idea." Butterbean goes on to say his "big announcement is I’m gonna fight one last fight. It’s gonna be one year from now". He then mentions Paul, "if you're ready, I’m here for you my friend. Let’s get it on, me and you Jake Paul". "I bet it would be an awesome fight. After you said what you said about me in the magazine, I’m ready to fight you. Are you ready? I don’t think so," Butterbean opines. Paul has defeated the likes of Ben Askren and Tyron Woodley. Butterbean, who became a pro boxer in 1994 after a successful stint on the Toughman Contest scene, finished his boxing career with a record of 77-10-4 and is without a win in the ring since 2007. He never competed for a world title during his two decades in boxing, however, he successfully made the move to the octagon where he competed in kickboxing and MMA. Paul might not fancy fight a man who stood at 5ft1in and weighed 378lbs in his prime, TalkSport wrote, but he is planning to be back in the ring August 13. While his opponent has not been announced, Paul did not react well to comparisons to Butterbean after his brutal knockout of Nate Robinson in 2020. “They can go f*** off. I stole the show,” Paul stated. Paul is believed to have not yet responded to Butterbean's request.