Butterbean Eric Esch once accidentally knocked out referee with brutal right hand while trying to KO

Butterbean was famed for his heavyweight power, as referee Terry Wood unfortunately found out first hand. The unorthodox heavyweight boxer, real name Eric Esch, ranged between 300lbs-430lbs (21 stone - 31 stone) in his career.

Butterbean was famed for his heavyweight power, as referee Terry Wood unfortunately found out first hand.

The unorthodox heavyweight boxer, real name Eric Esch, ranged between 300lbs-430lbs (21 stone - 31 stone) in his career.

Butterbean started out fighting on the 'Toughman Contest' scene in Texarkana, Arkansas where he was initially pushed to enter by his friends in the early 1990s.

The four-round amateur format had a maximum heavyweight limit of 400lbs (28½ stone), which Esch exceeded at the time, meaning he had to go on a diet and drop some of his iconic flab.

His nickname came from the butterbeans he ate as part of the diet, which he suggested is a thing of the past recently when discussing his weight and a fight with Jake Paul.

After becoming champion in this competition and building a reputation as 'King of the Four-Rounders', Butterbean took the opportunity to turn professional in 1994.

In just his second pro fight, Esch found himself starring on TV.

He began a unique career boxing regularly in four-rounders across the USA, usually knocking out journeymen opposition and becoming a cult figure as he did so.

On October 25, 1995, Butterbean drew a crowd at the Pontchartrain Center in Kenner, Louisiana for a fight with Pat Jackson.

However, it turned out the 1-1 journeyman was not his only opponent that night.

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Looking to go 14-0 himself, Esch went about his usual routine of pummelling his foe with power punches and wearing him down.

In round three, the end looked to be near as Jackson was clearly fatigued and had slowed dramatically.

As he pushed for a knockout in the final seconds of the round, Butterbean had Jackson in the corner and was swinging away.

With the crowd cheering loudly, he did not hear the bell.

Referee Terry Wood jumped in between the two boxers and found himself smashed by a huge right hook from Esch as a result.

Wood instantly fell backwards to the canvas.

Butterbean had found the knockout he was looking for - but administered it to the incorrect victim.

Both fighters returned to their corners while Wood was helped back to his feet by ringside officials who jumped into the ring.

Thankfully, a decision did not have to be made regarding whether the ref was fit to continue because Jackson quit in between rounds, seemingly trying to avoid suffering the same fate.

As the cameras panned to Wood, it was clear he'd picked up a bad bruise on the side of his face.

Fortunately though, he was not seriously harmed.

Butterbean apologised and embraced Wood, but was not overly remorseful in his post-fight interview.

"He just got in the way," Esch said of the referee. "If somebody gets in the way, they go down.

"It weren't intentional, but it happens."

Wood agreed as he said: "I'm fine. It goes with the territory. If you're gonna get in that ring, you're gonna get hit.

"The timekeeper gave the ten seconds shout, I got close to the boxers as you do at that time.

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"They were in the heat of the battle, didn't hear the ball and Eric caught me with one."

Impressively, the wounded ref continued to officiate further fights on the show, proving he had a tougher chin than first thought.

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