What is funny is they were supposed to fight on a Pacquiao undercard in Macao after Ike got released. It never came off after his rearrest for parole violation.
Ruiz Jrs by decision. Both as tough as a $2 steak (yeah that's right, I'm now using that saying LOL), both solid chins, I really believe it would be a distance fight. I just think Ruiz Jr's combination punching and handspeed would be enough.
There's some serious recency bias with this forum and Andy Rice Pudding Jr. He's only had one impressive performance in his career. Let's be honest, Ibeabuchi batters him. Rice Pudding Jr's foot speed leaves him in the mire with Ibeabuchi, being hit all over the body and to the head. Ibeabuchi had spite and an engine, two traits that would cripple the plodder.
Ike is one of the most overrated heavyweights in history. He beat Tua and Byrd, plus a lot of people score it for Tua. Andy’s win over Joshua is better than Ike’s whole career
"Ike's whole career" Ibeabuchi's career was cut short at 26 years old. Who had Andy Rice Pudding Jr beaten up until that point in his? He had lost to Paint Dry Parker, couldn't even trouble the ghost of Liakhovich, the ghost of Kevin Johnson or the legend that is Frank Lawrence.
This would genuinely be a difficult one to call. Both are at a similar level, both are shorter and smaller HWs by modern standards. Andy won all the marbles and then threw it all away due to over eating and lack of discipline Ike is a nutcase and would have won a world title, but was never able to because he was incarcerated. I think this would be a very close decision....one way or the other...I think each fighter would win 5/10 each.
Just because he beat Anthony Joshua doesn't mean he'd beat Ibeabuchi because styles make fights. Ibeabuchi is a significantly better pocket fighter than anyone Ruiz has ever fought and has a granite chin, Aj not so much. Ibeabuchi would eat Ruiz's best shots easier than he ate Tua's and would come back with 3 times the inside work Joshua could ever produce. Ibeabuchi isn't better than Anthony Joshua because thats not what im trying to say but he's much better at close range. Not even Lennox Lewis wanted to risk going toe to toe with David Tua and Lennox Lewis is a better infighter than Aj. In addition to that Ibeabuchi beat a prime Chris Byrd quicker than Povetkin did to a shot Chris Byrd so it shows that he's on that level
I can't envision that slow afoot plodding Ruiz engaging the Ike that went to war with Tua. That Ike stops Ruiz