Ibeabuchi was the guy I was hoping was going to be next great. He was like a bigger version of Evander Holyfield. Too bad he was nuts. I think he would do a number on Foreman.
Although my heart wants Goerge Foreman ( and he may very well have taken it ), Ike Ibeabuchi would have been a very dangerous opponent for him at any point during his comeback. He was likely the type of opponent that George would have steered clear from ( and perhaps did. ) Ibeabuchi's chin, power and skills were all tested a very a reasonable level, despite not having very many fights. Beating prime versions of David Tua and Chris Byrd with under 20 bouts would have been considered a noble feat for almost anyone. I'm thinking Ike takes a decision and if he gets Goerge bleeding early the way that Alex Stewart did, may very well have forced a stoppage.
Hasim Rahman also beat Tua so what does that prove? Chris Byrd is a middleweight so again what does that prove? Tua is a shorter man with power only in his left hook. Foreman had power in every punch.
Ike would get a pretty easy unanimous decision. George would have likely swelled up pretty terribly after such a fight. I think Ike may now be just slightly overrated (there were times when he did not look all that impressive that aren't usually mentioned). But I still think the fighter who gave David Tua all that he could handle would have been too active for George to best. George still had power, however, and Ike although he was very durable could be hurt. That was part of why he chose to rely so heavily on the jab later on in the Ibeabuchi fight when everyone was saying he needed more behind it. The fight will progress differently as it will be more of a boxing match than the phone booth Tua fight. That's going to encourage Ike to use the jab, and the occasional Foreman shot will keep Ike honest. But, through out it, he'll just be too busy for Foreman.
Ike never proved anything, Foreman wins anyday. The thing Tua didnt have was a jab, he just lay on his chest and let him hit him. George is an intelligent boxer.
So we're talking about the George that fought Holyfield against the Ike that fought Tua? :think Ike's activity would seem hard to argue with..
Ike never beat anybody of Foreman's size. I don't know that he could get throught that piston of a jab.
