Evander Holyfield vs Ike Ibeabuchi

I watched the fight with Tua last night, Ibeabuchi stood toe to toe with Tua and took Tua's best left hook on the button and absorbed a huge uppercut from him as well and went nowhere. While Tua was a limited fighter two things he did possess in abundance were chin and power. After rewatching that fight I think Holyfield would be in serious trouble exchanging with Ike. Evander is the better fighter but clashing styles can make for crazy things in the ring. With Ike's work rate and volume punching there's no way this fight doesn't erupt into a brawl , I've changed my mind on this fight, the Holyfield who had to come off the mat against Bert Cooper would not survive a gun fight with Ike. I will be in the minority who thinks Ibeabuchi would have stopped Evander in an epic slugfest.

 

Absolutely none, it would have erupted into a toe to toe slugfest early

 

Foreman was past his prime. Bowe did stop Holyfield though.

 

That isn't how boxing works. Foreman took bombs from Tommy Morrison who hits much harder than Holyfield. Yet Foreman was stunned by Holyfield. Ray Mercer took Lennox Lewis punches yet went down from Holyfield's punches. Mike Tyson took punches from Razor Ruddock yet to stopped by the lighter punching Buster Douglas. Jeff Wooden went 10 with Tua and some people think he won yet Wooden got stopped by Everton Davis.

Ike knocked out Chris Byrd a blown up 160 pounder and he beat Tua a guy who had good power but could be out boxed by anybody with skill. Now people overrated Ike like he was this unbeatable boogie man.

 

Holyfield wins a convincing decision in an exciting fight. Lots of heavy leather thrown from start to finish. Both men probably end up with concussions.

I think Holyfield's hand speed, vast experience, and footwork offsets Ike's fairly straightforward but effective style.

 

I kind of like Ike to win unless Holyfield was trained by Stewart and opted to box for 12 rounds which wasn't in his DNA.

Ike was a developing fairly skilled puncher who had better stamina than Holy, and perhaps the better chin. He had better size too. Holyfield was quicker but Ike showed he can catch up to and take out a tricky Chis Byrd who had quite a chin.

Lots of guys bettered Holyfeid or beat him once. Ike could be one on the list.

He is really

0-2 vs Lewis ( not counting the bogus draw )
1-2 vs Bowe
1-1 vs Moorer
1-1-1 vs J Ruiz

As he head some hiccups in wins if we are being honest. Not counting his fights post Ruiz.

 

All points I agree with.....

 

Holyfield is the better ring general and will dictate the complexion of the bout. He can decide when it's a brawl and when it's a boxing match and, overall, gets the better of Ike, in each format.

Holyfield W UD 12

 

That is very possible, Evander would have to avoid the mano a mano shoot out though.

 

1 ) Not likely

2 ) Ike wouldn't let a boxing jab fest break out. Did he allow Byrd to box him? No way.

 

It would be preferable for Holyfield, if it were not a pure shoot-out, but prime Heavyweight Holyfield survived Bowe. I think he could survive Ibeabuchi; the difference being that I believe Holy would do better in the exchanges against the latter.

 

I think Holyfield would do well either in a brawl or boxing match. A fast paced brawl would favor Evander, who's ability to think quickly during exchanges is underrated along with his dynamic defense. He would make Ike look slow and mostly ineffective.

 

Agreed.

Often, observers will refer to the Ike/Tua bout for reference. But, while it was a crazy slugfest and a sporting spectacle, to boot, it also lacked any type of sophistication. Tua, in particular, showed very little in the way of inventiveness - to put it mildly.

 

Huh? Bowe thoroughly dominated Holy in the first match and knocked him out in their 3rd match If a shoot out happens, I favor Ike. The second match Holy fought a perfect fight, and the event was marred by the fan man causing a 16 minute break allowing an often gassed Holyfield time to comply re-fuel. It was a razor thin win on the cards. And this is the rare time where Holyfield didn't go to war.

 

You got it.