DON’T JUDGE A BOOK...

Eric ‘Butterbean’ Esch didn’t look like your typical KO artist but produced some of the best knockouts of all time

1. LUIS MONACO

In December ’95, Butterbean delivered one of the KOS of the year when he left poor Monaco out cold beneath the bottom rope following a huge overhand right.

2. GEORGE LINBERGER

It took Butterbean just 19 seconds to locate the jaw of Linberger with his left hook and, when he did, the shot, thrown as Bean rose from a crouch, took him off his feet and left him wondering what hit him.

3. RODNEY PHILLIPS

Butterbean would often show he was more than just a one-dimensional KO artist, and this proved the case in a 2004 fight against Phillips. Timing the finisher to perfection, he bowled over a right-hand counter that bounced Phillips’ head off the bottom rope.

4. ED WHITE

The demise of White began with a left hook that took his feet off the canvas in round two. After that, a wild right sent him down, and a left hook-right hook-left hook combination sealed the deal.

5. PAUL SPRINGER

Springer attacked Butterbean early during their fight in 1995 but paid the cost. Inside just 45 seconds, he was caught by two chopping right hands as he tried to press the action and immediately regretted his tactic.

6. PATRICK GRAHAM

In what was another example of Butterbean’s underrated ring nous, Graham copped a brilliant pullcounter right hand which sent him flying backwards. He was then knocked out of the ring by a right to the body.

7. SCOTT LINDECKER

Severely outweighed, Lindecker tried to run in round four, but Butterbean called him on and, with his fists by his sides, unleashed a right that knocked him out.

8. KEVIN TALLON

A left hook wobbled Tallon in round three and then Butterbean, smelling blood, decided to pour it on and end matters. Finally, Tallon was put out of his misery by a clubbing right behind the ear.

9. JAMES BAKER

Baker, a man who appeared as though he had never boxed before, lasted just 18 seconds in Butterbean’s company in 1996. He ran, he cowered, and eventually he succumbed to an innocuous flurry. Later, he admitted to taking a dive.

10. TERRY WOOD (REFEREE)

Wood was the unfortunate recipient of a Butterbean right hand when he intercepted its trajectory in order to separate Bean and his opponent, Pat Jackson, at the end of round three. The ref took it flush, went down, but was thankfully okay.