madjack
30-07-2002, 02:46 AM
It's Homes, 52, v 'Butterbean'
25jul02
AFP
NORFOLK, Virginia: Former world champion Larry Holmes comes out of retirement at age 52 on Sunday (AEST) to face Eric Esch, better known as "Butterbean", in one of heavyweight boxing's oddest attractions.
Holmes, the undisputed world champion from 1980 to 1985, will face Esch in a 10-round freak show matching a has-been against a never-was.
Holmes enters with a 68-6 record that includes 44 knockouts, one a 1980 stoppage of Muhammad Ali. He last fought in November of 2000, defeating Mike Weaver.
Esch is 63-2 with three draws and 48 knockouts over woeful opposition. Esch is a bald, big-bellied battler who made a name for himself as "King of the Four Rounders" before the novelty act wore thin.
"Three or four rounds, no more than that," Holmes said when asked how long he thought it would take him to beat "Butterbean".
"I still have one of the best left jabs in the business.
"He's going to have to eat a lot of jabs so I hope he is hungry."
The nickname "Butterbean" stems from the food Esch ate while on a diet to lose weight as a youth, one that appears to have failed miserably despite his claim to have fallen from 390 pounds to 330.
Endurance beyond three rounds will be the question for Esch, while Holmes will try and recapture the form of old for at least a few jabs.
Holmes dubbed Esch a clown in his autobiography, but there is no bad blood between the two.
"I don't know him well enough to not like him," Holmes said.
"I want to make Butterbean the Jumping Bean. If Butterbean beats my butt, he's the better man. But Butterbean can't get my goat. I'm too damn old."
25jul02
AFP
NORFOLK, Virginia: Former world champion Larry Holmes comes out of retirement at age 52 on Sunday (AEST) to face Eric Esch, better known as "Butterbean", in one of heavyweight boxing's oddest attractions.
Holmes, the undisputed world champion from 1980 to 1985, will face Esch in a 10-round freak show matching a has-been against a never-was.
Holmes enters with a 68-6 record that includes 44 knockouts, one a 1980 stoppage of Muhammad Ali. He last fought in November of 2000, defeating Mike Weaver.
Esch is 63-2 with three draws and 48 knockouts over woeful opposition. Esch is a bald, big-bellied battler who made a name for himself as "King of the Four Rounders" before the novelty act wore thin.
"Three or four rounds, no more than that," Holmes said when asked how long he thought it would take him to beat "Butterbean".
"I still have one of the best left jabs in the business.
"He's going to have to eat a lot of jabs so I hope he is hungry."
The nickname "Butterbean" stems from the food Esch ate while on a diet to lose weight as a youth, one that appears to have failed miserably despite his claim to have fallen from 390 pounds to 330.
Endurance beyond three rounds will be the question for Esch, while Holmes will try and recapture the form of old for at least a few jabs.
Holmes dubbed Esch a clown in his autobiography, but there is no bad blood between the two.
"I don't know him well enough to not like him," Holmes said.
"I want to make Butterbean the Jumping Bean. If Butterbean beats my butt, he's the better man. But Butterbean can't get my goat. I'm too damn old."