Heavyweight boxing legend Butterbean said he is more than ready to replace Mike Tyson should the former world champion suffer any more health complications ahead of his fight with Jake Paul. Butterbean, whose real name is Eric Esch, is also a 58-year-old former boxer who was best known for his ability to knock people out at will.

The Atlanta native was also looking forward to fighting Paul, repeatedly calling out the YouTuber. Butterbean left the ring for good after losing his last fight to Kirk Lawton in 2013.

After undergoing a stunning body transformation, he feels more than ready for another battle in the squared circle. So much so that he promised to be in Texas for Tyson’s fight with Paul.

He took it TikTok and said, “Mike Tyson and Jake Paul, I will be at the fight to challenge the winner of the fight, yes. Mike, if you drop out again, I’ll be there to take your place.”

Esch finished his career with 77 wins, 57 by knockout and only 10 losses. Boxing fans remember him fondly as one of the funniest fighters to ever grace the sport.

By comparison, Tyson initially retired from boxing with 50 wins, 44 knockouts and six knockouts. His fight with Paul will be a fully sanctioned professional fight that will count towards both fighters’ records.

Tyson has not taken part in such a fight since 2005, when he was knocked out after the sixth round against Kevin McBride. Despite suffering a stomach ulcer that delayed his first fight, Tyson assured fans that his health problems were now behind him.

Tyson tipped the scales and achieved an impressive 233 pounds (16 and a half stone). When asked how he felt before the fight, he replied: “I’m fine. Nobody treats me calmly. They want to see if I leave or not and I’m still here. All training is over. Fighting is a party, training is preparation, but fighting is a party.”

Tyson escalated their feud by punching Paul during their last confrontation, leading to their separation. Paul responded to the argument by touching his cheek and laughing at Tyson.

The “problem child” mocked Tyson even more in an interview after the incident. He said: “I didn’t even feel it. He’s enraged, he’s an enraged little elf.

“Mike Tyson, I thought that was a cute slap, buddy, but you’re going to get knocked out tomorrow. Fuck him, fuck him. Hits like a female dog. It’s personal now. He must die.

Jake Paul talked about how boxing gave him purpose in life after dealing with his insecurities.

The YouTuber-turned-boxer was ridiculed for trying to turn pro, but the noise slowly died down after defeating former UFC fighters Nate Diaz and Anderson Silva.

Paul admitted that he has been on a journey to “heal” himself and says he doesn’t care if people bring up issues that make him insecure.

“When they say anything about me, it means that I have dealt with all my insecurities as a man. I looked at myself in the mirror and went on many spiritual, healing journeys,” he told The Independent.

“Not only do you suddenly have no insecurities, but I’ve dealt with them. So if someone brings it up, it’s like… I don’t care because I love myself.”

He added: “I need boxing. Boxing saved me. I was in a very murky place in my life.

“I lacked discipline, routine, community, passion and progress. Boxing gave me all that and I loved punching people and getting punched!

“I love the pace, the strategy, everything behind it. It’s art. Then there is preparation, content, press conferences and outfits. All this made me, to some extent, fall in love with boxing, where I need boxing every day to be able to function. I love this sport and that’s what it’s all about.”

Mike Tyson has revealed a sensitive chapter in his storied career as the “baddest man on the planet”, admitting he cried before fights. Since his boxing debut in 1985, Tyson has not only amassed an impressive 50 wins, but has also won the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles while fighting icons such as Frank Bruno and Lennox Lewis.

Although the nickname “Iron” Mike seems to only reflect the ferocity and explosive power he displayed in the ring, the now 58-year-old legend occasionally pulls back the curtain to reveal a softer, emotional side. In a candid conversation with William Shatner on his Hotboxin’ podcast that aired in July 2020, Tyson opened up about his pre-fight tears, admitting, “I always cried before a fight.”

Delving deeper into his psyche, Tyson continued, “I don’t know, it’s just who I am,” prompting the Star Trek star to encourage him to delve deeper into self-discovery. In response, Tyson said, “I’m getting ready to turn into someone I don’t like,” which clearly intrigued Shatner.

Tyson detailed the internal turmoil, adding: “He brought more than just the fight with him. He brought jealousy, jealousy and guilt. He brought a lot of things,” before concluding on a reflective note: “That’s captivating, no one has ever put it together.

“That’s who I was. Everything that was bad was this guy. Everything I remember from the past, my mother, my family… it was this guy.” Tyson then admitted that while his ego is arduous to suppress, he still manages to “sneak it up every now and then.”

In the same podcast, Tyson discussed the importance of fear to a fighter, saying, “Fear is our friend. Fear is like fire, you know what I mean? If you are afraid of it and let it get out of control, it can destroy you and everything around you, but if you can control it, it can cook food for you, it can toasty you and keep you toasty. He can be your friend and he can fight for you.

The boxing legend is set to return to the professional ranks after 19 years as he prepares to face Jake Paul at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, with the fight scheduled for early Saturday morning (UK time). Having been away from professional boxing since his defeat to Kevin McBride in 2005, Tyson returned to the ring in 2020 for an exhibition match against Roy Jones Jr, which ended in a draw after eight rounds.

Paul, on the other hand, has compiled an impressive 10-1 record since making the jump from YouTube star to boxing four years ago, defeating notable opponents such as Nate Diaz, Anderson Silva and Tyron Woodley. Tyson shared more about how he is able to unleash his fierce side in the ring as he prepares for his intense November 15 fight.

While chatting with Logan Paul and Mike Majlak on the Impaulsive podcast, Tyson candidly discussed how easily he can tap into his more wild personality. He said, “Listen, he wants to come back every second of my life. It’s so straightforward for him to come back.” He further explained, “All I have to do is think about the fact that I’m younger and that people are bullying me.”