NORFOLK, Va. -- Eric "Butterbean'' Esch will have less of a weight advantage in Saturday night's 10-round fight against former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes.

At Friday's weigh-in, Esch, 35, pushed the scales to just 334 pounds, 21 less than the 355 pounds he weighed when the fight was first announced in April.

Holmes, 52, weighed in at 254¼ pounds, 2¼ pounds more than he weighed in April.

In the bout at Norfolk's Scope arena, Holmes will be fighting for the first time since Nov. 17, 2000, when he knocked out Mike Weavers in the sixth round.

Esch is a former Toughman champion who has become known as the "King of the Four-Rounders'' in his seven years as a professional. He knocked out Weavers in four rounds in his last fight on May 5.