Ike Ibeabuchi....How far could he have Gone?

[Nash out]

The ring ranked him in their top 10.
Ranked ahead of him was Shanon Briggs, who after 1999 wouldn't have an important win for 5 years, and Michael Moorer, who was lackluster between dropping the rematch with Holyfield in 97' and getting smashed by David Tua in 02', and Michael Grant who was beating Savarese and Golota on his way to his destiny with Lennox Lewis in 00'.
That left only Lewis and Holyfield, who would meet twice in 1999 to unify, at no. 1 and no. 2.
The ring ranked Ibeabuchi no. 4 that following year.
Ibeabuchi had snapped the unbeaten streaks of Ring top 10 ranked David Tua at 27-0-0 and Chris Byrd at 23-0-0, by March 1999, and never fought again. Done at age 26, which customary is early prime for most heavyweights.

"The President" was an abbreviated career fighter. Generally I'll avoid projecting how far such a fighter might have gone with too much zeal because things can happen. But Ike Ibeabuchi's undefeated career rests on two decisive wins over two of the other most promising undefeated upcommers of his time in David Tua and Chris Byrd who both continued their rise after defeats to the Nigerian and would remain in the rankings for years to come; one a fearsome puncher and the other a top shelf deft boxer. Two of the best as the new Century began. Over the next 8 years 1999-2007, when Ibeabuchi would have presumably done his best work, the best opponents that he might have had to face, included here with each one's record during the years in question 99-07; would have included both Tua (16-2-1) and Byrd (14-4-1), joined by Lennox Lewis (7-1-1), Wladimir Klitschko (25-2-0), Hassim Rahman, (10-5-2), Evander Holyfield (7-5-2), Mike Tyson (5-3-2), Michael Grant (15-3-0), Vitali Klitschko (13-2-0), Oliver McCall (19-2-2), Hasim Rahman (16-5-2), Ruslaln Chagaev (21-0-1), Nikolai Valuev (30-1-1), Corrie Sanders (8-2-0), Ray Mercer (10-2-0), Shannon Briggs (17-3-1), Roy Jones Jr. (13-3-0), Kirk Johnson (10-3-0), Larry Donald (9-4-2), John Ruiz (9-4-2), Andrew Golota (7-4-2), Jameel McCline (21-6-2), Lamon Brewster (13-4-0), Tony Thompson (31-1-0), Oleg Maskaev (19-3-0), Joe Mesi (26-0-0), Samuel Peter (29-1-0), Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1), James Toney (11-2-2), Lance Whitaker (14-5-0), Derrick Jefferson (10-4-1), Lou Savarese (8-5-0), and after that, guys of that era who probably had little or no shot at the Ibeabuchi who beat Tua & Byrd; like past prime Michael Moorer, or Clifford Etienne, Calvin Brock, Fres Oquendo, Davarryl Williamson, Elieser Castillo, Juan Carlos Gomez, Timer Ibragimov, Przemyslaw Saleta, Charles Shufford, Lawrence Clay-Bey, Andre Purlette, Sinan Samil Sam, Frans Botha, Luan Krasniqi, Danny Williams, Paolo Vidoz, Vaughn Bean, Monte Barrett, David Izon, Ray Austin, Kali Meehan, Dannell Nicholson, Mike Mollo, Kevin McBride, Herbie Hide, Timo Hoffmann, Michael Sprott, Audley Harrison, Volodymyr Vyrchys, Matt Skelton, Mark Potter, Brian Minto, Axel Schultz, Mark Krence, Owen Beck, Orlin Norris, Phil Jackson, Tony Grano, etc.

I'm thinking that as the stars of the 1990s aged out, we entered an era weaker than today's and many that came before, and that Ibeabuchi would have plowed through most of them.

He was a decent fighter but did all he could imo. Unlike some others, I feel that era was incredibly weak. Tyson for example could never do now what he did then , unless matched against guys top 30 and downward. It was a poor era, but Tyson brought the hype. Great storytelling. Nash out

[QueensburyRules]

The ring ranked him in their top 10.
Ranked ahead of him was Shanon Briggs, who after 1999 wouldn't have an important win for 5 years, and Michael Moorer, who was lackluster between dropping the rematch with Holyfield in 97' and getting smashed by David Tua in 02', and Michael Grant who was beating Savarese and Golota on his way to his destiny with Lennox Lewis in 00'.
That left only Lewis and Holyfield, who would meet twice in 1999 to unify, at no. 1 and no. 2.
The ring ranked Ibeabuchi no. 4 that following year.
Ibeabuchi had snapped the unbeaten streaks of Ring top 10 ranked David Tua at 27-0-0 and Chris Byrd at 23-0-0, by March 1999, and never fought again. Done at age 26, which customary is early prime for most heavyweights.

"The President" was an abbreviated career fighter. Generally I'll avoid projecting how far such a fighter might have gone with too much zeal because things can happen. But Ike Ibeabuchi's undefeated career rests on two decisive wins over two of the other most promising undefeated upcommers of his time in David Tua and Chris Byrd who both continued their rise after defeats to the Nigerian and would remain in the rankings for years to come; one a fearsome puncher and the other a top shelf deft boxer. Two of the best as the new Century began. Over the next 8 years 1999-2007, when Ibeabuchi would have presumably done his best work, the best opponents that he might have had to face, included here with each one's record during the years in question 99-07; would have included both Tua (16-2-1) and Byrd (14-4-1), joined by Lennox Lewis (7-1-1), Wladimir Klitschko (25-2-0), Hassim Rahman, (10-5-2), Evander Holyfield (7-5-2), Mike Tyson (5-3-2), Michael Grant (15-3-0), Vitali Klitschko (13-2-0), Oliver McCall (19-2-2), Hasim Rahman (16-5-2), Ruslaln Chagaev (21-0-1), Nikolai Valuev (30-1-1), Corrie Sanders (8-2-0), Ray Mercer (10-2-0), Shannon Briggs (17-3-1), Roy Jones Jr. (13-3-0), Kirk Johnson (10-3-0), Larry Donald (9-4-2), John Ruiz (9-4-2), Andrew Golota (7-4-2), Jameel McCline (21-6-2), Lamon Brewster (13-4-0), Tony Thompson (31-1-0), Oleg Maskaev (19-3-0), Joe Mesi (26-0-0), Samuel Peter (29-1-0), Sultan Ibragimov (22-0-1), James Toney (11-2-2), Lance Whitaker (14-5-0), Derrick Jefferson (10-4-1), Lou Savarese (8-5-0), and after that, guys of that era who probably had little or no shot at the Ibeabuchi who beat Tua & Byrd; like past prime Michael Moorer, or Clifford Etienne, Calvin Brock, Fres Oquendo, Davarryl Williamson, Elieser Castillo, Juan Carlos Gomez, Timer Ibragimov, Przemyslaw Saleta, Charles Shufford, Lawrence Clay-Bey, Andre Purlette, Sinan Samil Sam, Frans Botha, Luan Krasniqi, Danny Williams, Paolo Vidoz, Vaughn Bean, Monte Barrett, David Izon, Ray Austin, Kali Meehan, Dannell Nicholson, Mike Mollo, Kevin McBride, Herbie Hide, Timo Hoffmann, Michael Sprott, Audley Harrison, Volodymyr Vyrchys, Matt Skelton, Mark Potter, Brian Minto, Axel Schultz, Mark Krence, Owen Beck, Orlin Norris, Phil Jackson, Tony Grano, etc.

I'm thinking that as the stars of the 1990s aged out, we entered an era weaker than today's and many that came before, and that Ibeabuchi would have plowed through most of them.

- - Mr Prez got sidetracked by large appliances whereas other fighters sidetracked by grrls.

Demonstrably and Dangerously becoming a menace to the community when he kidnapped a young lad and ran his auto into a bridge abutment at highway speed in my community. For years his was the most talked about comeback on boxing forums, and of course he was gonna whoop everyone, but I had Tua beautifully outboxing while outmanuvering his clumsy charges, so he was hardly unbeatable.

Just Looney Tunes. Released a few years back and then taken back by Homeland Security when his home country, Nigeria I think wouldn't take him back, now disappeared forever it would seem.

[Hooded Terror]

True!
After ripping through the biggest young puncher and the best young pure boxer that he might run into for years on his quest for titles, it's hard to imagine a fail scenario for him, provided (!!!) That he could stay sane & focused and come in like he did in his two signature wins. Over the next few years he'd see them all lose to other, mostly lesser fighters, while most of the best ones age out (Lewis, Tyson, Holyfield). If he fought like we witnessed he could, and improved futher with experience (as excellent young fighters often do), I don't see anyone stopping him outside of Wladimir (who he might KO) and Vitali (who he might very well bust up and stop). Wow.

I've never been convinced Ike "ripped" through Tua. In fact, I believe its plausible that Tua hit him in a way that brough on the end. Given his career trajectory, his selfish attempt to kill himself and his GF's child (which left the child maimed), his threatening demands of Bob Arum and his extracarricular activities with rent-girls, to say nothing of his penchant for self destruction and his obvious delusion, the wheels came off at exactly the right time. If they'd strapped a belt around his waist he would have gone berserk somewhere in the ensuing months, perhaps successfully taking away innocent lives, unlike with his first attempt.

[Tatabanya]

Interesting article found today, containing an interview with Ibeabuchi from June 2022.

https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-new...esident/224745

[Willow The Wisp]

Interesting article found today, containing an interview with Ibeabuchi from June 2022.

https://www.boxing247.com/boxing-new...esident/224745

A great read. He seems at peace. Could probably still whack some dudes around.

[kara]

A great read. He seems at peace. Could probably still whack some dudes around.

Do an exhibition with Mike Tyson!

[QueensburyRules]

Do an exhibition with Mike Tyson!

- - Is Ike even allowed in the US?

Ike vs Big Dummy if you like youtube meltdowns is what you are looking for.

I'd rather not see any of them.

Jake and Logan Paul are clever Youtube generations who have show up the shoddy business practices of boxing.

Not to mention making l'l tommy into a youtube star with his Paul purse more than the career earnings of 99.5% of the uncountable thousands of fighters who ever existed.

[kara]

- - Is Ike even allowed in the US?

Ike vs Big Dummy if you like youtube meltdowns is what you are looking for.

I'd rather not see any of them.

Jake and Logan Paul are clever Youtube generations who have show up the shoddy business practices of boxing.

Not to mention making l'l tommy into a youtube star with his Paul purse more than the career earnings of 99.5% of the uncountable thousands of fighters who ever existed.

We both know Saudi would pay for that, and Mike was just there last month for Paul-Fury

[QueensburyRules]

We both know Saudi would pay for that, and Mike was just there last month for Paul-Fury

- - I ain't Saudi any more than You I presume, but I do know Mike and Roy fought a lucrative exhibition because they have a mutual respect for each other.

Nobody know who Ike is, and there was never the rivalry of a proposed fight like Mike and Roy had going in their day.

[Willow The Wisp]

Anybody who's ever spent as much time as I have in the company of old legends who've experienced the rigors of this trade would cringe at the thought of Tyson and Ibeabuchi swapping punches in their 50s
But, I wager that they'd bring it.