Ike Ibeabuchi: What if?

[Ambling Alp II]

Just had to do it. It has been sort of an odd Boxrec tradition that each January Ike Ibeabuchi gets brought up. I didn't see anyone do it yet this year, and time was running out.

[margaret thatcher]

Like any undefeated fighter who goes out early there is a bit of romanticization and mythology about them, but that said I think Ike was a legitimately good fighter. Compared to what results guys are getting today, blasting out Byrd and outslugging Tua are very good. Though not of the level of the Lewis and Holys, I think he could quite well been better than anyone to hold a title from 2003 to at least 2015 when AJ, Fury, and Wilder came along. I think he would've KTFO Wlad like his inferior Nigerian brotha Peter almost did

[littlepug]

Looked like he was on his way to being one of the top boys, frustrating that we didn’t get to see it play out, same with Valero as I think he had more to show us and was a better fighter than a lot give him credit for

[DrDuke]

He could be around the top. He could capture belts from Ruiz or Byrd again. But Lewis and any of Klitschkos would handle him.

[margaret thatcher]

What makes you sure that Wlad would handle him, when Wlad had such a torrid time with Peter. I think it's clear that Ike was much better than Sammy

Ike was tough, aggressive, and could bang with some decent accuracy. Wlad struggled vs a number of opponents simply because they were durable and kept coming at him. Sanders was actually not particularly durable but he went at him like I think Ike would do. I think Ike was all wrong for Wlad and would KO him. Obviously we are working with a smaller sample size with Ike, but his wins over Bryd and Tua are no joke compared to what Wlad did and who wlad lost to.

[Onetimeonly]

Yeah, wlad would be in harms way. Probably scared. Vitali never beat anyone close to Ike so that's far from a given. I think Lewis would get him. Valero was crazy overrated, ko waiting to happen.

[Woller]

Oh No - not again.

[Noxy]

He was good enough to go right to the top. The best laid plans of mice and men.

[DrDuke]

What makes you sure that Wlad would handle him, when Wlad had such a torrid time with Peter. I think it's clear that Ike was much better than Sammy

Ike was tough, aggressive, and could bang with some decent accuracy. Wlad struggled vs a number of opponents simply because they were durable and kept coming at him. Sanders was actually not particularly durable but he went at him like I think Ike would do. I think Ike was all wrong for Wlad and would KO him. Obviously we are working with a smaller sample size with Ike, but his wins over Bryd and Tua are no joke compared to what Wlad did and who wlad lost to.

Pre-Steward Wlad could be KOed by Ibeabuchi. But after Wlad reached his prime shape, he would handle Ike in his usual dominant fashion.

[Onetimeonly]

What makes you sure that Wlad would handle him, when Wlad had such a torrid time with Peter. I think it's clear that Ike was much better than Sammy

Ike was tough, aggressive, and could bang with some decent accuracy. Wlad struggled vs a number of opponents simply because they were durable and kept coming at him. Sanders was actually not particularly durable but he went at him like I think Ike would do. I think Ike was all wrong for Wlad and would KO him. Obviously we are working with a smaller sample size with Ike, but his wins over Bryd and Tua are no joke compared to what Wlad did and who wlad lost to.

Pre-Steward Wlad could be KOed by Ibeabuchi. But after Wlad reached his prime shape, he would handle Ike in his usual dominant fashion.

So you think Ike was on par with a povetkin or pulev?

[DrDuke]

Pre-Steward Wlad could be KOed by Ibeabuchi. But after Wlad reached his prime shape, he would handle Ike in his usual dominant fashion.

So you think Ike was on par with a povetkin or pulev?

As if what I've said makes exactly this conclusion.

However, post-Wlad Povetkin was noticeably better.

[Onetimeonly]

So you think Ike was on par with a povetkin or pulev?

As if what I've said makes exactly this conclusion.

However, post-Wlad Povetkin was noticeably better.

What were you aiming for? I just threw out two of the best guys he dominated. Ike would be the best fighter he ever faced with tools that would make him squeamish. Not saying he couldn't win, but jab and grab domination? Hell no.

[DrDuke]

As if what I've said makes exactly this conclusion.

However, post-Wlad Povetkin was noticeably better.

What were you aiming for? I just threw out two of the best guys he dominated. Ike would be the best fighter he ever faced with tools that would make him squeamish. Not saying he couldn't win, but jab and grab domination? Hell no.

Haye at that point seemed to be better, than Povetkin, by the way. And Wlad would be the best fighter Ike ever faced too. Ike didn't face such big boxers with excellent use of the size. He had the tools to win, but some of the others, who faced Wlad, had the tools as well. And Wlad has always been dominant after he reached his best shape.

[Onetimeonly]

What were you aiming for? I just threw out two of the best guys he dominated. Ike would be the best fighter he ever faced with tools that would make him squeamish. Not saying he couldn't win, but jab and grab domination? Hell no.

Haye at that point seemed to be better, than Povetkin, by the way. And Wlad would be the best fighter Ike ever faced too. Ike didn't face such big boxers with excellent use of the size. He had the tools to win, but some of the others, who faced Wlad, had the tools as well. And Wlad has always been dominant after he reached his best shape.

I agree David was better than povetkin,but he didn't exactly dominate haye. He clearly won but neither did anything. No doubt wlad was better than Byrd and tua. That's my point, unchartered for both of them. We know wlads strengths and weaknesses. Not a full picture with Ike, but his strengths play to wlads weaknesses.

[gilgamesh]

I personally didn't think he deserved the nod against Tua though it's a pretty good fight. Bit overrated, but good. As for Ibeabuchi himself. He's A LOT overrated, but he was good.

He may have managed an alphabet title if they were scattered at one point. I don't think he'd have been a big threat to Lewis.

Some guys I wish we would've seen more of what they were actually capable of just so people would cut it already with the what if's. Ibeabuchi is one such guy.

[DrDuke]

I personally didn't think he deserved the nod against Tua though it's a pretty good fight. Bit overrated, but good. As for Ibeabuchi himself. He's A LOT overrated, but he was good.

I agree with this. I rewatched this fight pretty long ago, but I had Tua edging it.

Ibeabuchi was good, but obviously not proved enough.

[Onetimeonly]

Most overrated fight since Ali/foreman, Ike clearly won it.

[Tony1244]

I think Ali vs Foreman was better as it was unclear if they could take the other's shot or gas out. Ike-Tua it was clear they could.

[Onetimeonly]

I think Ali vs Foreman was better as it was unclear if they could take the other's shot or gas out. Ike-Tua it was clear they could.

Sure, live. The replay value, and man do they replay it, isn't much for me. I didn't see Ike/tua live. Maybe that's why I hate it so much, lots of epic hype.

[gregor]

What makes you sure that Wlad would handle him, when Wlad had such a torrid time with Peter. I think it's clear that Ike was much better than Sammy

Ike was tough, aggressive, and could bang with some decent accuracy. Wlad struggled vs a number of opponents simply because they were durable and kept coming at him. Sanders was actually not particularly durable but he went at him like I think Ike would do. I think Ike was all wrong for Wlad and would KO him. Obviously we are working with a smaller sample size with Ike, but his wins over Bryd and Tua are no joke compared to what Wlad did and who wlad lost to.

Pre-Steward Wlad could be KOed by Ibeabuchi. But after Wlad reached his prime shape, he would handle Ike in his usual dominant fashion.

Since Ike last fight was 1999 it is safe to assume he could've improved significantly as well till 2004 (which is around the time Wlad started working with Steward). Especially that he was still quite young and relatively crude for a top figher.

[gilgamesh]

I think Ali vs Foreman was better as it was unclear if they could take the other's shot or gas out. Ike-Tua it was clear they could.

Sure, live. The replay value, and man do they replay it, isn't much for me. I didn't see Ike/tua live. Maybe that's why I hate it so much, lots of epic hype.

I didn't see it Live either, and same as you find it to be an overrated fight.

I can pinpoint why though. There's just really no drama. They throw a lot of shots sure, land plenty, but nobody is ever hurt or wobbled in the whole fight. It's just guys throwing a bunch of punches, and the decision is questionable in the end.

As for Ali-Foreman, I don't think the fight itself would be seen as so Legendary if not for the fact that it easily ranks as one of Ali's biggest and most significant victories.

Ali and the near mythical levels of hype that surround him are why that fights gets the hype it does. Not that it's bad, but a lot of the rounds are just kinda forgettable.

It was a pretty big upset at the time it happened though. For obvious reasons.

[Onetimeonly]

It's like holy/Tyson. Epic event and outcome, not a great fight. The former might be my favorite fight ever and the latter is the same for millions, but neither were great. Holy/Mike was one way traffic.