Ibeaubuchi had that special mean aura surrounding him especially after Tua and Byrd but he lost his **** and we never got to see how high he wouldve gone. For reference, Byrd beat Holyfield and Tua beat Mercer and Rahman. Ibeaubuchi stopped Byrd and won a clear decision against Tua. GGG beat Canelo once, drew once, and lost once when he was old. He also beat Jacobs and Dervenchenko although both of those fights probably deserved rematches. GGG had an unfortunate chronological career in that he didnt get his chances until he was older as Sergio retired and Pirog retired due to injury. Much was left to be desired in GGGs career as he seldom fought best available competiton (partly his own doing). Honorable mention for Edwin Valero (another nut who was fierce and crazy) Who would've had the best career if they all started in US at ~21ish and didnt go crazy?
Golovkin by far because he had much more longevity and was knocking everyone out, ok his opposition wasn't the best, but he still had a pretty good run where he was one of the most feared Middleweights. I actually do think Ibeabuchi would've done well at Heavyweight had it kept it together. His only real stumbling block was a prime Lennox Lewis, but he should be the favourite against an aging Holyfield and Tyson. I don't see a green Wladimir beating him either, Vitali is another name that could derail him. But I don't see anyone else stopping him, I think it was a pretty good time in Heavyweight division for Ibeabuchi to come of age, pity he squandered it and he'll always be known as a What If ? As for Valero his best win is over DeMarco, and he had the likes of Juan Manuel Marquez to contend with. If Pacquiao who is a better version of Valero couldn't convincingly beat Marquez in 4 fights, then I would tend to think Valero would lose to Marquez.
Triple G and it’s not even close. If ibeabuchi had any Boogyman vibes, they were gone after arguably being out boxed by David Tua.
How avoided was Ike? Did the WBA create a special strap for somebody so that they could dodge him? (Sturm) Did opponents choke up when his name was mentioned (Cotto) , lose their pens (Eubank) and vacate belts (Canelo) rather than face him? Did his contemporary fighters state outright that he'd beat them and that he needed to be aged before a showdown? (Saunders) Did other fighters state outright that 'swerving' him would be better for one's health? (Froch) Did Ike ever have to pay a mandatory challenger (Jacobs) extra to get the guy in the ring with him? Ike was a formidable fighter without doubt but he had holes in his game and I think lots of his contemporaries would have fancied a go.
Also as for hypothetical career, it would have been GGG without doubt. He only really got going in 2010 when he won his first title and he was 28. 28 is getting towards the end of a career age wise in boxing terms. If he'd had 4 years shaved off his age for his career it could only have benefitted him.
I think it was the other way Ike wasn't out boxed at all by Tua. He Boxed & Punched his way to victory.. He could thank the late great Curtis Cokes for that. That hook of Ike's totally scrambled Byrd's brain. When asked he said " I wasn't knocked out I wasn't even knocked down" Then they showed him the replay He just said "Awww **** " Ike was just getting started, he'd only had 20 fights when he fought Tua No one had heard of him. They were talking one more fight then go for Lennox, when he made the mistake of calling that hooker in Vegas The rest is history My feelings are If he had got the help he needed & held it together . He would have been the natural successor to Lennox. A Lennox / Ike fight would have been a barn burner
Some of what you say is true but GGG wasnt all innocent. He famously offered catchweight 158lbs to Rosado (who turned it down) then balked at Canelo for any catchweight (155-159). GGG also offered to fight Froch and JCC Jr at 168 but required Ward fight at 164. GGG passed on Lara and Andrade and BJS who all - at least publicly - offered to fight on short notice after Canelo tested for PEDs. Lara probably wouldve gone through w the fight. GGG was a great fighter but like all fighters he wasnt all innocent.