Who would win this match up? I'm picking Ibeabuchi by stoppage. He's much stronger (Mike struggled against physically stronger boxers), and if he can eat punches from David Tua nothing a prime Mike Tyson throws will keep him at bay. The better match up would be Ike Ibeabuchi Vs any version of George Foreman, it would be like two trains crashing into each other.
Ibeabuchi makes Tyson quit after a Hell of a war. Could go either way but Ibeabuchi was a Thunderbird
Great matchup. Anything but Iron Mike Tyson at his very best will lose to Ike the President Ibeabuchi.
Ike was bigger and stronger but he really wasn't a physical fighter, he wouldn't do what Holyfield did and smother and push back on Mike. Against Tua, Ike basically used his shoulder and elbow to lever Tua off him at times but spent a lot of time inside just exchanging shots in close which usually is suicide vs Tyson. Ike is very durable he took Tua's best shots but he was able to pick off a lot of his shots and roll with them. This would be harder to do vs prime Tyson as unlike Tua who usually throws single shots, Tyson threw in combination. If we're talking a prime for prime match up I think Tyson stops Ike, his combination punching and speed would be the difference against a target that would be right in front of him at times. Taking one hard shot off Tua is one thing, taking a combination off shots you don't see coming is another. Much like how Shaver's best shot couldn't keep Holmes down, but Tyson's combo's KO'd Holmes. But if we're talking them fighting in the 90's I think Mike had slipped enough to be beaten and stopped by Ike.
Everyone talks about the Tua fight but Jesus there are levels and a prime Mike Tyson was worlds better than Tua in head movement. I could easily see a Prime Tyson wearing Ike down with body work and make him tire by slipping his shots. Ike would get frustrated, make more mistakes and Tyson would most likely get a ref stoppage inside of eight.
I’m going with the huge upset here, Ibeabuchi late stoppage because he is a lot like Holyfield but bigger, stronger, bigger puncher, Holyfield is the better boxer but Holyfield beat Tyson by fighting with Tyson and bullying him back and if a blown up cruiser who was 218lbs at the time can do that I’m sure 240lbs of pure muscle Ibeabuchi could push Tyson back and outmuscle him and I think Ibeabuchi takes Tyson’s best and takes over late and stops him
Whether Ike would have the same savvy & toughness as Holyfield is unknown, but it may work out as you say. Ike was 235 against Tua though.
Yep just because a fighter can do something doesn't mean they will do something. Fighters have ingrained muscle memory they respond in set patterns based on how they have trained. For Ibeabuchi to fight like Holyfield did vs Tyson, Ike would need to specifically train to do what Holyfield did, clinch, maul, headbutt, you don't just go in there and execute a certain style you've never used before.