I wonder what impact Ibeabuchi would have had on the heavy weight division if he had not gone off the rails? He destroyed Tua and Byrd in manner going back to the Tyson days. Like many other boxers he was unable to behave outside the ring and the division may have lost a trail blazer for the turn of the century
In NO WAY--no ****ing way--did he destroy Tua! He did knock Byrd TFO but I had him losing to Tua. I think he would have proven to have been an elite talent, but I personally do not like his prospects against Lennox Lewis. Difficult to gauge how he would have fared against the taller heavyweights.
The Tua fight was not one sided, some people feel Tua actually won. I don't think he did I had Ike winning by a round or 2 in the end. Today I think he would KO alot of guys in the upper ranks but would fall to the likes of the Klitschko's, or Lennox Lewis, or even David Haye at this point. Haye would be too fast and powerful, the other 3 would just be too hard to get to.
:huh Many people felt that Tua actually beat Ike. That says a lot about Ike's boxing skills, when he may have actually been OUTBOXED by David Tua over 12 rounds. Great fight though. Byrd was actually beating Ike, when he was caught with a monster shot as he played on the ropes. Ike said after the fight that Byrd had him frustrated, and that Byrd was also hurting him to the body. Ike was a very good fighter, but has been very overrated.
Tua was never really outboxing him, though. In fairness to Ike, Tua never threw or landed so many punches in a fight before or since. But I did think Tua deserved the nod in that one.
Damn Good! Very strong, soild and technical! He truly was a good boxer when the HW division started to dwindle in terms of true practioners of the sport in the HW division....Byrd was anther one and Ike destroyed him. Would've, Could've, Should've but didnt'. A true dissapointment!
A great figher with a high degree of skill and amazing attributes. I think he would have disposed of the majority of the division with relative ease, but would have struggled against those RIGHT at the top. That said though, I think he would have given anyone a hell of a night, whether they won or lost! I do, however, think that people look back on him with some kind of nostalgia or hopefulness; many people think he would become an indominable and indestructable force like a second coming of Tyson (i think the hope was he was incredibly similar, but with much more height to play with), which he certainly wasnt.
One of the BEST figths I've ever saw at HW was the Tua vs Ike fight....close as hell but I gave it to Tua....but I could have given it to Ike as well. I think I was just a little biased with Tua at the time. Tua NEVER, EVER looked that good following that Win.
That fight was a brawl! They both showed very good skills in that fight and although it was in a boxing ring...these guys were just plain FIGHTING. Neither man was outboxed...B/c Ike was technically better...Tua ate more shots...Clean shots than Ike...but Tua was the pressure guy in there and he made the fight what it was IMO. Byrd yea....he frustrated Ike, but Ike was also laying traps for Byrd the entire fight. He just couldn't get Bryd to bite until that upper cut that damn near decapitated him...I think that was roudn 6. Ike wasn't overrated IMO. He was a very skilled HW in an era where "SKILLED" HW were still around and dominating....guys like Holy, LL, Byrd, Ike ect...Plus Ike was still improving, young and powerful. His outside the ring life was just a bit crazy and it made him pay the price.
Ike had pretty good hand-speed, and decent mobility for such a big man. He had power in both hands, threw punches in combinations... Had a granite chin, and above all unbelievable stamina. He definately could have beaten ALL HW stiffs of the day, except for Lewis. (I think he would have given Lennox all he could handle) Ike had the power, chin, and stamina to take out Wlad, and maybe even Vitali. Yes,,, he was THAT GOOD! What a shame he went nuts...