Butterbean on fighting, handmade razors and growing up in St. Johns

A scratchy Southern voice bellowed into the receiver from the middle of a muggy 91-degree Thursday afternoon in north-central Alabama.

“Yes, this is Butterbean.”

Known for his robust waist size, American flag trunks and lengthy highlight reel of knockout punches, Eric Esch, 51, better known in the boxing world as Butterbean, quickly points out that he doesn’t give interviews anymore.

He is retired from the fighting game now with more than 300 bouts under his belt. According to the record books, Butterbean won 77 of 91 boxing matches during his career, 58 of those by knockout. Overall, he won more than 100 fights in boxing, MMA and kickboxing.

But for all his success in the ring, arguably the biggest moment of his career came on the silver screen, where he played himself in the 2002 hit movie “Jackass.”

Now, he gets his adrenaline fix catching fish with his eight grandchildren and making handmade pens and razors on his property in Jasper, Alabama, a city of more than 14,000 northwest of Birmingham.

Before his fights, the ring announcer would always claim that Butterbean was fighting out of Bay City, Michigan. That is partly true, he said. His trainer from his Toughman Contest days was based there.

But Butterbean considers St. Johns to be his hometown.

He was born in Georgia, but was raised in Clinton County from around the age of 4 to the end of sixth grade, when he said his dad packed up the family and headed south to get away from the cold weather. He has fond memories of St Johns, his neighbors and even his childhood bully.

Although he wasn’t keen on giving an interview, Butterbean let the Lansing State Journal interrupt his retirement bliss for a few quick questions.

What does life after boxing look like for you? A lot of fishing and outdoor adventures in Alabama, I assume?

Yes, I have my grandkids and I am pretty much retired. I make hand-made razors and ink pens out of deer antlers and different things. I make straight razors out of alligator jaw bones, which is pretty cool.

Do your grandkids know about your fighting past? Are you raising any future fighters?

Oh yeah, they know what I’ve done. And I hope not. It’s a rough sport.

A lot of folks in Mid-Michigan probably have no idea, but you actually grew up in St. Johns. Do you ever make it back? And what do you remember most about growing up in Clinton County?

I was just starting junior high when we moved away. Yeah, it’s simple, man. It’s like Leave it to Beaver stuff. I used to ride my bike a lot. I was a young kid. I was just back there a couple of months ago. I grew up on Oakland Street. Saw the neighbors, they are still the same. It hasn’t changed much.

So I assume you weren’t bullied or messed with too much?

One kid used to pick on me. He used to pick on everybody. The teachers did nothing about it. A whopping back then probably would’ve fixed him.

Does he have any idea that the kid he used to pick on is a world-famous fighter?

Now he does. He actually friend requested me (on Facebook.) You never know who you are picking on.

When did you first start fighting? Was it on the schoolyard in St. Johns?

I never really got in fights growing up. (My first fight) was more of a dare. When I was working in a factory a local Toughman (fighting contest) come around and they all dared me to get in because I was a big, strong man. I did real well.

Do you remember your first fight?

Oh yeah. It was in Jasper. I fought the hometown hero, who had won like the last five fights he was in. His name was Baby Huey. He is a really good guy, and we became good friends afterward. It was a slug fest. I thought I beat him, but they gave him the decision. After the fight, he told me, ‘I’m not coming back, I’m too sore.” After that, I started fighting and training for (Toughman.)

How did you get the unique name “Butterbean?”

Working in a factory. There was a $20 entry fee for a Toughman, and my co-workers paid it. I found out there was a weight limit, and I was 20 pounds over, and I had two weeks to lose it. So I went on a butterbean and chicken diet, and everyone kept picking on me, saying “don’t skip those butterbeans.” Then, when I fought, they started chanting it. At first I was like really? A butterbean? But it worked out well.

When did you realize that you were a good fighter?

I never really found out. It just happened. It was easy, quick money at the time. I was only making $250 to $300 a week at the factory, and I would fight one time and make $1,000 cash. That ain't so bad, and we are talking like 30 years ago. That was a lot of money back then. I won like 18 Toughmans and nearly 70 fights.

Did people not take you seriously at first because of your size?

At one of my first Toughman competitions, some people were kind of laughing, saying “look at this fat slob who is going to get his ass kicked.” Those same people weren’t laughing after I destroyed this body-building boy. I destroyed him. The following day, Showtime came to me and said “how many people did you bring to the fight?” I said “Just my wife, why?” They said at least 30 people were out there with Butterbean shirts on. Others were wearing red, white and blue -- like my trunks that I wear because I am proud to be an American -- with Butterbean signs. Showtime was amazed. That was a pretty good kick start. SEGA even contacted me, wanting to put me on a video game named “Toughman.” That was before I turned professional. How many fighters are on a video game before they turn pro?

Records indicate that you have been involved in more than 200 fights. Can you even register how amazing that is?

If you count Toughman, probably more than that. I’ve been in a lot. If you count boxing, MMA and a lot of other fights that were at casinos and stuff like that, it’s probably closer to 300 total fights.

How are you physically and mentally?

I have a bad hip right now, but other than that, I am pretty good. My brain is still working. One plus one still equals five, so it still works pretty good.

When your name comes up, inevitably the movie “Jackass” will come to most people’s minds. How did that all come about and how much fun was it to knock Johnny Knoxville unconscious in the middle of a department store?

"Jackass" always seems to come up. Things in my career happened in different stages with different age groups. I remember doing Wrestle Mania 15 and getting a big crowd following from that. The "Jackass" people called me up, and it was huge. You would be amazed how many people watch that show. It was a lot of fun.

It always looked like you were having fun in the ring. Am I wrong about that?

I have fun. That’s one thing you have to do. If you are not having fun, you aren’t relaxed, and you can’t accomplish what you want to do. You have to enjoy what you are doing. I had a lot of fun. You get paid for it, and you don’t go to jail. That’s a good day.

Are you still involved in the fight game at all?

Not much. I go to some shows and some MMA fights. I don’t follow any of it much anymore. All of my friends are retired.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t ask you about the upcoming Conor McGregor, Floyd Mayweather fight. Who do you got and will you watch?

How do you take someone who has never had a pro fight before? Boxing and MMA are totally different sports. (Mayweather) is pound for pound best fighter in the world. This is an accident waiting to happen. I think if something does happen, they should prosecute the commissioner who approved it. It’s a big fiasco. It’s going to be a horrible fight. I’m not going to watch it.

Contact Cody Tucker at (517) 377-1070 or cjtucker@lsj.com and follow him on Twitter @CodyTucker_LSJ.

Made by Butterbean

If you are interested in buying a handmade pen or razor from Butterbean, visit his Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/butterbean.esch.