Eric “Butterbean” Esch suffered the first loss of his boxing career on December 28, 1995, in what was also his professional debut. His opponent that night was Mitchell Rose, a relatively unknown fighter. Butterbean, already gaining attention for his massive size and power, entered the ring expecting a quick and dominant victory. From the opening bell, Butterbean came out swinging with his usual aggressive, brawling style. He pressured Rose with heavy punches, looking to end the fight early like