Razor Ruddock vs Ike Ibeabuchi

Me stubborn or you? atsch
Ill tell you how he could win if you have an open mind? Ike comes forward with a lot of activity right? Ruddock likes to step back or to the side and throw an uppercut or hook as his opponent moves in. Its a lot easier to set traps and take advantage of a young fighter who at that point in his career was winning on raw skills, workrate, and sheer will. Anyone who walks into a Ruddock uppercut or hook can get hurt or be made to think twice.
I cant remember the exact fight but its a couple fights prior to Tua that Ike looked flat out bad against an outside fighter.

 

WOW! I would envision this a very good toos up fight and am a little surprised by the unanimous (nearly) response in favor of Ike!

I agree that Ike seems to have the physical tools to impose his will in this fight, but I also seem to believe that he lacked the necesary polish to call that a forgone conclusion as well. Watching Ruddock vs Smith you can certainly see flashes of the fight plan he would need to overcome Ike. And even in that he was susceptible to Smith's power, and likely to get hurt by Ike a time or two or three.... I am not sure how Ike responds to Razors movement and counterpunhing and power, I for one (maybe I am alone???) believe his power to be on par with Tua and if he lands flush can stun anyone.

From what I have seen of both guys I would call this a 50/50 shot and would not wager on it all! If forced to make a pick I feel more comfortable picking Ruddock in a 7-5 type decision. Ike probably has the better chance of scoring a stoppage than beiong stopped himself, but I wouldn't rule either scenerio outside of the realm of possibility! Not that Ike couldn't pull this off, but forced to choose between an 89-90 version of Razor and 97-99 version of Ike...I would edge it out with Razor by close decision!

 

So you're saying there's a possibility of a Ruddock knockout, because I don't envision Ruddock's 30 punches a round getting the job done against the 80-100 punches a round Ike. It's a bad stylistic match-up for any puncher to be put in with Ike, I don't care who he beat or how proven he was, he showed he could take a shot, and he showed he can go hammer and tong for 12 rounds.

So whereas what you are saying is true, Ruddock can't win that way. That's ALL Ruddock does. Throw a sharp one two every now and then, lead with a half hook, half uppercut, or throw it on the counter. He's NOT knocking out Ike, and he won't be winning enough rounds to get a scorecard verdict, in my opinion. Would it be a hell of a war? Yes. Very competitive. I said that from the start, but Ike wins. In my estimation.

 

Not personally, but during the commentary of Razor vs Bonecrusher, they mention the fight, that Razor was in control, and then gassed...they mention he was suffering from a rare respitory condition, but cannot verify or deny their claims?!

 

Tough one. A lot of question marks lingering over Ibeabuchi's potential, and which version of Ruddock matters a lot.

 

Maybe Ruddock should have raped someone and went to prison after the first Tyson fight. Than everyone can talk about how he was robbed and nigh invunerable, how he stood up to Iron Mike's best shots and gave some back; perhaps christen him a bigger, stronger, faster version of Bowe....there would be no doubt he would destroy Lewis as well.

 

The man himself said it was an asthma attack.

 

But if you've seen the bout, Ruddock hardly looked like a world beater in there. And it sure was not a carbon copy of say the Klitschko--Byrd fight where a guy quits that's way way ahead. Ruddock was in there & having a tough time of things and being tested.

 

i still must pick ibeabuchi here. even if he gets outboxed he will eventually get to ruddock and crush him. stop a prime byrd & give a full distance hell to tua => destroy ruddock .

 

Of course its possible. Tua rattled him a couple times and like I said walking into a Ruddock counter is no picnic, even Tyson who did have a proven iron chin, got shook a few times.
I dont think you would see that type of output from Ike against Ruddock either, because of Ruddock's style.
Just didnt know enough about Ike to say its a clear win, although in my opinion, he was the last guy that had all the physical tools to be the next ATG, just a bit too green to see if he had the ring smarts for it.

 

Agreed, thats kind of my point, we didnt see that from him yet against a fighter like Ruddock. Ike showed tons of potential but he was just starting to move into the point of his career where ring smarts were going to start coming into play. He had 20 fights, and matching him against the Ruddock that fought Tyson and you have a very tough fight for Ike.
If I was matching Ike I would steer clear of Ruddock if it wasnt for a title.

 

Ruddock ducked nobody I’ll give him that — he didn’t have to fight lennox Lewis cause ruddock was already ranked 1 by the wbc - all he had too do is fight stiffs and get a title shot !!!

 

Yes asthma / he almost retired from boxing because of asthma

 

Not really true I knew both Ike & Kirk when they trained at Curtis Cokes Home of Champions gym in Dallas Two guys that should have got a title but were denied for different reasons. I dont recall then sparring together Kirk's manager wouldnt let Kirk spar Ike. Both were up for it though

 

Ruddock was the favorite out of the four Ruddock, Holyfield,Bowe & Lennox
when that deal was signed. When Newman & Eddie Futch saw what Lennox did to Ruddock they renaged on the deal & dumped the WBC belt they knew Bowe could not beat Lennox