Tragic storys of great talents - Ike Ibeabuchi...

[seattledirk]

One of the greatest talents in heayweight history may be Ike Ibeabuchi, but as so many before he failed in life.

His record is: 20-0-0
He won against David Tua and Chris Byrd.
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The Strange Case of Ike Ibeabuchi
By Paul Barker

03.09 - It was the American Dream, gone horribly, horribly wrong. A young boy slugs his way out of a third world ghetto and into the pro boxing stratosphere, only to fall victim to mental illness, depravity, and what some have labeled "demonic possession." No, I'm not talking about Mike Tyson, though you certainly could be forgiven for thinking so. I speak not of Mike but of Ike - Ike "The President" Ibeabuchi.

As a boy in Nigeria, Ike was exposed to boxing, but he was also exposed to poverty, crime, hopelessness, and a glaring lack of education. In 1993 he was able to immigrate with his mother to Dallas, Texas, where it did not take him long to hook up with the House of Champions Gym and former welterweight star Curtis Cokes. Cokes saw potential in the sizable young heavyweight, and was proven right when Ike became a Golden Gloves champion in the space of a year.

Ike turned pro shortly thereafter, impressing everyone with his strength, hand speed, and out-and-out skill. He never lost a contest, and within three years was challenging David "The Terminator" Tua for the WBC International Heavyweight Title.

This highly anticipated clash of undefeated heavies did not disappoint. In fact, it set a record for the number of punches thrown in a heavyweight fight. Against all odds, Ibeabuchi triumphed by majority decision. It should have been his finest hour, not the beginning of the end.

Yet, clearly, Ike was never the same after this fight. Had he taken too many of Tua's heavy left hooks to the head? Or, as some folks claim, had one specific shot -administered by Tua at some point in the middle rounds - done the damage? For the first time ever, Ike was complaining of head pain after a bout. A MRI scan, however, revealed nothing out of the ordinary.

Whether or not the epic slugfest with Tua was to blame, Ike Ibeabuchi was fast becoming unglued. In a pathetic incident of what we now call "air rage," cops had to forcibly detain the incensed pugilist. He began to make ludicrous monetary demands of his promoters. He was tormented by demons visible only to his mother and himself. Much of his lunacy was reserved for his hapless sparring partners; one's head was split open, another almost had his leg broken.

A few months after the Tua fight, Ike abducted the son of a former girlfriend, threw him into his car, and drove straight into a concrete pillar, permanently injuring the poor boy. This atrocity earned Ike a paltry two months behind bars, but he was forced to pay an undisclosed amount of money to the boy's mother.

Incredibly, Ibeabuchi was permitted to continue boxing, where his madness seemed to work for him. He tore apart journeymen Tim Ray and Everton Davis, and became the first (and, so far, the only) man to stop "Rapid Fire" Chris Byrd. One thunderous left hook in the fifth round had Byrd down twice, and a subsequent barrage of power punches prompted the referee to put an end to the fight.

A few months later, Ike summoned a lap dancer to his hotel room at The Mirage in Las Vegas. The girl insisted on a cash payment up front, which enraged Ike to the extent that he forced her into a closet and raped her. The 6'2", 245 lb fighter brilliantly sought to evade capture by hiding in the bathroom; a few strategically directed shots of police-issue pepper spray managed to "flush" him out of there.

Ibeabuchi was subsequently sentenced to a whole heap of jail time for this misdeed, although rumors are circulating that various lawyers - who just happen to be fight fans - are working pro bono for his early release. They are reasonably confident that he will be out in six months to a year, despite his being anything but a model prisoner.

Ibeabuchi's life story and Tyson's read the same. Both boxers A) grew up more or less destitute B) rose to dizzying heights as heavyweight bangers with finesse C) drove their autos into inert objects D) allegedly assaulted several women E) cited mental illness as the reason for their idiotic hijinks and, F) spent most of their respective primes behind bars. It remains to be seen, of course, whether Ibeabuchi can mount as effective a comeback as his counterpart. At twenty-nine years of age, time has certainly not run out on him.

Just how good was Ike Ibeabuchi? As a boxer, that is. Well, let's see… In 1997 he stood toe-to-toe with one of the most powerful punchers in heavyweight history, and emerged utterly victorious in the eyes of the judges. In 1999, he ensnared and summarily obliterated the slickest little stinker in heavyweight history. At the time he was being led from the Mirage in handcuffs, he was the number two heavyweight in the eyes of the IBF, and had just wrangled a three-fight deal with HBO for well over a million smackeroos. His boxing record is every bit as impressive as his prison record: 20 - 0, with 15 KO's.

Strange though this saga certainly has been (and it ain't over yet), I feel like renaming the article "The TRAGIC case of Ike Ibeabuchi." It's been tragic for Ike, and perhaps infinitely more tragic for the heavyweight division.


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Who else do you know that fits in this story of boxers who could have been on top, but somehow never made it?
I would add Tommy Morrison.

[Jaclem]

At the tail end of the 1940s there was a heavyweight out of Buffalo named Henry "Snow" Flake...or Flakes. He started out as if he was going to become a real contender, and then just disappeared. I remember hearing that he was shot to death by the police, got life in prison and even from some sources that he got the electric chair. Anybody have any real info on him? His BocRec shows him winning his last two fights against Lee Oma, a notorious spoiler who'd put together some win streaks from time to time and get into title contention. (He was stopped by Ezzard Charles in a title fight) Flake(s) was matched with some fighters with much more experience right from the start and had a good record.

I'm not sure the boxrec is correct, as I vaguely recall his losing a fight or two and then vanishing, but that could just be a false memory.

[overhand_right]

here we are once again going overboard on ike ibeabuchi.

and you cant blaim his craziness on tuas punching. the guy was always unhinged.

that sick bastard deserves life in prison for permanently injuring that little kid. and a rapist to boot. i hope he does come back so lennox can give him some permanent injuries.

[zurdo]

Damn Straight Overhand!!

Hopefully this guy will stay in the can for a long time....
Regardless of what a grewt "talent" he is, He's forfieted his right to walk the streets in civilized society..

[Justin]

Horrible man, very good fighter...

[seattledirk]

Horrible man, very good fighter...

Hmm, I think that is the best summary I ever heard of Ike.

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But Ike should be just an example, I would like to know, which boxers you all know else, who could have been champions, but somehow never made it.

I think the most interesting aspect of boxing is the personality and the tragedy...

[zurdo]

Another obvious example of a fighter who self destructed similarly would be Tony Ayala Jr. I'm sure some of you remember him in 82. He looked like he was headed for multiple world championships and mega-superfights with the likes of Duran,Hearns ,Hagler, Benitez and Leonard... It wouln't have been ridiculous to say he could have won some of those fights.Who knows how good he could have been

[Jaclem]

zurdo...maybe it was a typo. surely you meant to say it WOULD be ridiculous to consider him beating any of those fighters. He was much more effective out of the ring, usually against women. Much over ballyhooed, and much overrated fighter by the casual observer. Real ringsiders saw all the flaws easily.

[zurdo]

Well Jaclem thats just your subjective opinion....
Appearantly none of the "real ringsiders" you know were working in Ayala's opponents corners.
My opinion is that he would have been a very good champ had he not been such a rotten character outside the ring.
He was certainly better than Davey Moore who did hold a title
I could see him taking an aging Duran or a sliding Benitez circa 1983

[Jaclem]

zurdo - if by an "aging Duran" you mean the Duran of today versus the pre-prison Ayala, I'll concede he'd have a chance. A lot of people were better than Davey Moore, who got a title when they were easy to get, and you know what an "aging Duran" did to him.

As for Ayala's "comeback"...I'm not sure where he stands with the law these days. but if he's available for a match,Tonya Harding is making her boxing debut very soon.

happy holidays

[zurdo]

I was talking about the Duran that lost to Kirkland Laing and struggled with clubfighters like Jimmy Batten and would soon get blasted By Thomas Hearns
Or the Benitez who was thrashed by Mustafa Hamsho Ayala certainly could have beaten them at that stage of their careers
In all fainess to you , No I don't think Ayala would have beaten Marvin Hagler or Hearns or Mc Callum or a comebacking Sugar Ray.
As for his comeback now ...I couldn't care less .He's just an old fighter who squadered his great talent .

[zurdo]

At the very least Ayala would have been an entertaining player in the mix... His savage fighting style and bad guy persona would have made him a big attraction. Sort of like a miniature Mike Tyson
The second tier of fighters in that weight range were pretty good too Ayala could have concievibly mixed it up with Julian Jackson, Davey Moore, John Mugabi, Donald Curry, Milt Mc Crory, Mustafa Hamsho,Bobby Czyz..Those fights could have made him a big star. And I can see him doing pretty well against those guys I think that his time at the top would have been relitively short lived
Ayal proably would have burned out quickly anyway those fighters with relentless savage styles can't maintain that edge for too long (ala Tyson and Pryor)..His penchant for self destuctive behavior would have undone him before to long..

Young ,talented and soon-to be-wealthy Ayala had everything in the world going for him and he comletely ruined it

What an A--hole!

[wsbuf]

Jaclem, i believe snowflakes was executed for his crimes. Was a shame, was very good fighter and in his prime.

[Ringo]

a tragic story is that Oscar Bonavena, arguably the best boxer not to be champ.
The hard partying Bonavena was murdered, shot dead outside Mustang bar in 1976, he was 33.
The man that shot him only served 16mths jail for involuntary manslaughter... but it is likely that it was a contract killing. The shooter was found dead in his apartment.. cause of death not apparant and autopsy didnt show either.

Bonavena had a record of 56-9-1 (42 ko's)

Oscar 'Ringo' Bonavena, the forgotten champ... ali and frazier knocked you down, but you kept getting back up. But this time you got knocked down for good against your hardest opponent, yourself. R.I.P ringo

[enrique]

HERE'S A FEW:

BILLY BELLO- WELTER PROSPECT OF SIXTIES WHO DIED OF DRUG OVERDOSE.

JIM SUMMERVILLE-HEAVYWEIGHT OF SIXTIES SHOT BY COPS WHILE DOING A HOLDUP.

JIM BARRY- FOUGHT SAM LANGFORD AND A BUNCH OF OTHERS AND DIED IN A GUNFIGHT BRAWL IN A PANAMA BAR.

JUAN ARROYO- ONCE A DECENT LIGHTWEIGHT PROSPECT WHO'S DONE SEVERAL JAIL STRETCHES AND HAS A DRUG ABUSE PROBLEM.

BOB HAZLETON- WHO ONCE FOUGHT FOREMAN BECAME A MULTIPLE AMPUTEE FOR ABUSE OF STEROIDS,

JUMBO CUMMINGS- FROM JAIL TO FRINGE CONTENDER AND BACK TO JAIL.

JEFF MERRITT- CANDY SLIM IS HOMELESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSING IN LAS VEGAS.

TYRONE EVERETT- TOP FEATHERWEIGHT WHO DEALT IN DRUGS AND WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN PHILADELPHIA.

FLYWEIGHT BLACK BILL -A BIG STAR OF THE ROARING TWENTIES- WENT BLIND FROM A VENEREAL DISEASE AND COMITTED SUICIDE.

ELVIS YERO- ONCE A TOP AMATEUR AND A GOOD PROSPECT, DIED OF A DRUG OVERDOSE.

BUMMY DAVIS- MURDERED BY GANGSTERS.

AND THERE'S A LOT MORE..............

[JDGAFFLIN]

Ricky Womack. Promising fighter out of Detroit. Arm robbery. Released from jail. Suicide.

Excuse me... I miss you Ricky.

[BoxBuzz]

I hear you knocking, but your not comin in. Ok I see the connection...on the coat tails of this blast from the past.

[dempseyfire]

I recently re-watched Ike-Tua . . .that Nigerian is the most over-rated HW ever. VERY ponderous, no angles, weak jab. A limited guy with a good left hand like Hasim Rahman could box circles around Tua all night, but Ibeabuchi didn't have the skills or firepower to even clearly win more than 6 rounds vs the plodding Samoan. Tough crazy bastard, but I can see someone like Eddie Machen boxing circles around him.

['Rocket'Rigby]

AND THERE'S A LOT MORE..............

Two that come to mind are boxers that had their talent taken from them;

Billy Collins Jnr; welterwight, won 14 straight contests and earned himself a place fighting at the Garden. Landed a fight against a difficult boxer called Luis Resto. Given the chance to prove himself he lost by UD. After the fight Billy Collins Snr shakes the hand of the winner and realises the gloves have no filling. Jnr was battered beyond recognition, eventually his eyes failed him and he could no longer fight. Suspected to have taken his own life after crashing his car intoxicated.

Harry Haft, Light-Heavyweight, Austrian. Held in a German POW camp where he was forced to fight for his life. Fought around 75 times mostly bare knuckle for the amusement of the guards. After his release, he was quoted as saying 'what can a man with gloves on his hands do to me'. He turned professional and tried his hands at the game only to be emotionally unstable. His record stands at 20 fights, 13 wins and 7 losses. Imagine if his talent wasn't wasted, what must 75 fights in a POW camp taken out of him?

I think it safe to say both of the above showed enough heart in all the fights they had to earn respect and appreciation of their acheivements, but just imagine what could have been for both them. Two truly amazing men and such a shame that they had their talent taken from them.

(Final Note; Harry Haft has an autobiography out now, titled 'Harry Haft; survivor of Auschwitz, challenger of Rocky Marciano'. This is a very emotional book and a must read for any boxing fan.)