Amid probe, Butterbean says he’s clean

Dean Juipe

Friday, Jan. 23, 2004 | 10:13 a.m.

Stepping forward not so much to right a wrong but to place his position in perspective, heavyweight boxer Eric "Butterbean" Esch said Thursday that he has never been involved in a fixed fight or had knowledge of being in one as a participant.

"I'd never be involved in something like that," he told the Sun. "I'd go right to the athletic commission if I ever thought or was suspicious that something was going on.

"It's crazy. I wouldn't have anything to do with something like that."

Esch's name surfaced in connection with the Federal Bureau of Investigation's raid of Top Rank Boxing Inc.'s offices in Las Vegas two weeks ago. It is known that among the many files, computer discs, videos, contracts and records the FBI seized were videos of Esch's fights when he was promoted by Top Rank.

Asked if the FBI had spoken to him yet about the fights, or if he anticipated being questioned, Esch said "no" to both.

"And I'd think they'd have already talked to me if they were going to," he added. "I think they've got bigger fish to fry than me. I don't think they're going to worry about fixing fights on my level."

A fight between Esch and Mitchell Rose in 1995 surfaced as suspicious when Rose told the New York Daily News that he had been offered $5,000 to throw the bout, which he later won.

The boxing record-keeping website BoxRec also mentions at least five other fights involving Esch that had suspicious moments or outcomes.

Esch also wanted it made clear that "the FBI is not investigating me. It's investigating Top Rank and boxing. They may have interest in my previous fights, but I'm not the one under investigation.

"But it does make me look bad."

As for a scheduled fight last Friday in Birmingham, Ala., that drew the Sun's attention for its overt one-sidedness, Esch said the fight with novice Wally Kienbaum was meant to be an "exhibition" and not a competitive bout. But the exhibition was called off last Friday afternoon after an Illinois Athletic Commission member, who was supervising the card, blocked Esch's participation due to a lingering knee injury.