Butterbean vs Linberger 2!

October 11, 2005

By David Finger

It has taken a little over four years, but the rematch that looked like it would never happen for Akron's George Linberger is only two weeks away from finally happening. On October 15 at the Chaparral's Club in Akron Ohio Linberger takes on the hard punching, cult-favorite Eric "Butterbean" Esch.

After their first fight in 1999 few expected to ever see the two fighters in the ring again. Butterbean scored a devastating 19-second knockout that all but destroyed the credibility of Linberger and helped solidify the myth like status of Butterbean as one of the sports most popular fighters.

At first it appeared as if Linberger was finished as a fighter, losing to Troy Weida and Nicolai Vaulev shortly after the loss to Butterbean. But Linberger has mounted a solid win streak, winning nine of his next ten fights, and has gained some credit with a solid win over Jeff Yeoman for the NABC Great Lake's Heavyweight title in his last outing. Prior to his knockout over Yeoman, Linberger stopped Paul "Rocky Ray" Phillips in the opening round.

But Linberger realizes that many boxing insiders still hold the Butterbean loss against him, and he is eager to set the record straight. "I think if you ask any boxing insider they would tell you that the fight was a complete fluke," Linberger commented on the loss, "there is no way I should have loss to that guy."

Nonetheless, although Butterbean may appear to some to be a fighter in decline, he still has bone crushing power and an ability to knock out just about any heavyweight who is willing to stand in front of him. Linberger may not wish to admit it, the fight is still a "pick 'em" fight. And almost every expert agrees that if Linberger gets caught like he did in Las Vegas back in 1999 he will almost certainly be knocked out again.

Although he has shown tremendous improvement over the last four years, and showed some impressive boxing skills in his last two fights, his chin has failed him against Butterbean in the past, and it is not out of the question that it could again. But with above average power of his own, Linberger may elect to stand and trade with Butterbean himself. Although the strategy may appear foolish on paper, both Phillips and Yeoman would attest to the fact that it may not necessarily be a mistake for the former Arena football star.

"He hits pretty hard," Yeoman admitted after his loss to Linberger, "he should beat Butterbean."

For both fighters, the dislike they feel towards the other is palatable and real, and with two heavyweights with great power and everything in the world to prove, there should be no shortage of fireworks on October 15th. Fans can watch the fight the following night for only $4.95 by ordering it at www.risp.tv. Fans can also watch the press conference on www.risp.tv after October 11.