Retired heayvweight boxer Butterbean has called for a ring return at the age of 55 to face one of Jake Paul or Mike Tyson.
Paul and Tyson have often spoken of a prospective bout between one another, but Butterbean is closer to the boxing legend's age, and is a recognised heavyweight. The former fighter, whose real name is Erich Esch, has been getting back in shape under the tutelage of former WWE star 'Diamond' Dallas Page, and wants to make a ring return.
He went 77-10-4 during his professional career as well as putting together records in MMA, kickboxing and professional wrestling, and last fought just over a decade ago in Australia. Watching the likes of Tyson, 56, and Floyd Mayweather, 45, compete in major money exhibitions has made him want to step back into the ring one more time for a big payday and one last fight.
“I’m not a typical boxer, I go out there to fight," Butterbean told The Sun. "I want to knock somebody out. Jake Paul or Mike Tyson. Jake Paul runs his mouth too much, he’s never fought nobody, I would love to fight him.
“But I think people would like to see me and Tyson go at it, which would be a hell of a draw.
"Me and Tyson are actually friends but I don’t mind fighting friends."
The fighter has been participating in a TV documentary where wrestler Page, famous for his DDP Yoga programme, helps celebrities to lose weight. He has ended up over 500lb, or around 35lb, and while he can't disclose the number he has lost, he has turned his life around.
And now he wants to get back into the ring with Tyson, two years after he was forced to turn down an exhibition bout with the legendary boxer. Triller put on Tyson's comeback against Roy Jones Jr, but had originally wanted to go for a more outlandish show, first approaching Bob Sapp and then Butterbean to face Tyson instead.
Would you pay to watch a fight between Mike Tyson and Butterbean in the year 2022? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
"I was in that dark place," he said of the offer he was met with to face Tyson back in 2020. "There was no way it was possible. I’m alive right now, I’m good to go.
"And Mike is in great shape, it would be a hell of a fight. We’d both come to fight, Mike ain’t going to run from me. That’s where his big mistake would be. I sparred Buster Mathis a lot, so I know Tyson’s style.”
Tyson continues to toy with the idea of fighting again, and has said that he wants to face Paul this year. The former heavyweight champion fought to a draw against Jones in November 2020, but has yet to return despite staying in good shape and training over the past two years.
