Was Ike really a murderous puncher?

**IMDAZED** · 10-15-2008, 02:21 PM

Originally posted by JAB5239

Was Ike Ibeabuchi really a murderous puncher? Many on these boards make him out to be, but I disagree. His 75% ko ratio is misleading since most of the knockouts came against stiffs, with the exception of a small Chris Byrd who was shorter and gave up 36 pounds in weight?

Some of his contemporaries had better KO ratio's in there first 20 fights. Tommy Morrison was only taken the distance 3 times in his first 20 fights. Hasim Rahman, also 3 times. Lennox Lewis, twice. Bowe, twice. And Andrew Golota once. With the exception of Lewis and possibly Bowe, none have reached the heights that were predicted for them within those first 20 fights. why would Ibeabuchi have been different? We know he wasn't any kind of mental giant, and you just cant get there with the physical part of boxing.

So.....was he a beast as many have claimed? A prospect? Or just plain ol overrated because of two fights? Vote and discuss.

KO ratios mean little...seriously.

That said, Ibeabuchi wasn't a one-punch KO guy - far more an accumulative kind of puncher.

**BrooklynBomber** · 10-15-2008, 02:22 PM

Ibeabuchi is probably one of the most overrated fighters in the history of the sport.
Nobody get as much futures credit as him.
Likely because he looked mean and had a lot of muscle.

**The Surgeon** · 10-15-2008, 02:23 PM

Guy could **** but wasnt a home runner hitter like a Tyson Or Tua, never mind Shavers or Foreman.
Wouldnt relish the thought of being on the buisness end of his left hook tho!

**Burning Desire** · 10-15-2008, 02:24 PM

Originally posted by JAB5239

Was Ike Ibeabuchi really a murderous puncher? Many on these boards make him out to be, but I disagree. His 75% ko ratio is misleading since most of the knockouts came against stiffs, with the exception of a small Chris Byrd who was shorter and gave up 36 pounds in weight?

Some of his contemporaries had better KO ratio's in there first 20 fights. Tommy Morrison was only taken the distance 3 times in his first 20 fights. Hasim Rahman, also 3 times. Lennox Lewis, twice. Bowe, twice. And Andrew Golota once. With the exception of Lewis and possibly Bowe, none have reached the heights that were predicted for them within those first 20 fights. why would Ibeabuchi have been different? We know he wasn't any kind of mental giant, and you just cant get there with the physical part of boxing.

So.....was he a beast as many have claimed? A prospect? Or just plain ol overrated because of two fights? Vote and discuss.

Maybe not a monsterous puncher but he certainly could turn a fight around with one punch, as that showed against Chris Byrd. Plus he had excellent inside fighting skills. I do feel he is somewhat overrated and i think a good boxer with a long reach could have outboxed him. Someone like Lennox Lewis but i do think Ike Ibeabuchi would have been great for the division.

Ike Ibeabuchi vs David Tua 2
Ike Ibeabuchi vs Evander Holyfield
Ike Ibeabuchi vs Lennox Lewis

Amazing mouth watering match ups shame we never seem them.

**JAB5239** · 10-15-2008, 02:31 PM

Originally posted by Burning Desire

Maybe not a monsterous puncher but he certainly could turn a fight around with one punch, as that showed against Chris Byrd. Plus he had excellent inside fighting skills. I do feel he is somewhat overrated and i think a good boxer with a long reach could have outboxed him. Someone like Lennox Lewis but i do think Ike Ibeabuchi would have been great for the division.

Ike Ibeabuchi vs David Tua 2
Ike Ibeabuchi vs Evander Holyfield
Ike Ibeabuchi vs Lennox Lewis

Amazing mouth watering match ups shame we never seem them.

I like this response. Green K given.

How would he have fared against Vitaly K? I think he would scare the pants off Wlad. Big brother is a different story.

**Ryn0** · 10-15-2008, 02:40 PM

Originally posted by JAB5239

I like this response. Green K given.

How would he have fared against Vitaly K? I think he would scare the pants off Wlad. Big brother is a different story.

I think Ike would fight at a pace Vitali is not used to he might slow Vitali down because of exhaustion. I don't think Vitali can KO him, Tua hit him with everything and couldn't dent the man. Vitali might be able to keep him at the end of his jab but Ike is a big guy himself so personally he might outwork Vitali to a UD would be a war though, Both have Iron chins, Vitali proberbly has more power, Ike has more speed, workrate and not a bad punch himself.

Wlad would get KO'd by Ike though

**WLAD OWNS** · 10-15-2008, 02:42 PM

Originally posted by JAB5239

I like this response. Green K given.

How would he have fared against Vitaly K? I think he would scare the pants off Wlad. Big brother is a different story.

Prime for Prime....Vitali would beatdown the overrated Nigerian nutjob

Wlad would outbox Ike and win a decision

**Steak** · 10-15-2008, 02:53 PM

how is he overrated? He knocked out Byrd brutally, which didnt happen again until he was shot about 6 or 7 years later against our current #1 Heavyweight, and was able to go the distance with both Vitali and Wladimir right after Ike knocked him out. yea, I know, Vitali quit. but even if Vitali wasnt injured, he wouldnt knocked out Byrd. watch the fight, Byrd was never actually hurt, just getting poked constantly from the outside.

And as far as I know, he broke the record for the amount of punches thrown in a heavyweight fight. He might have had great stamina, just maybe.

I dont expect him to last against any of the ATG heavyweights or anything, but theres no doubt whatsoever he would have dominated the stale mid 2000s where guys like Brewster, Rahman, John Ruiz and Chris Byrd were champions.
and I dont know if Vitali would have ever ended up fighting him, but that would have been a great match. Wlad would have too, but Wlad wasnt quite as developed as he is now back then, much more vulnerable.

and all the while Ibeabuchi would have been getting better.

**KingTito** · 10-15-2008, 02:55 PM

He was definitely a solid fighter with talent. He may be a bit overrated, but it's boxing. Fighters get overrated all the time. It's a shame we don't know how it would've played out for him.

Was Ike really a murderous puncher?