Ike Ibeabuchi vs Bonecrusher Smith

It's a good match up. I would lay my money on Ibeabuchi, as he seemed more able to maintain a winning pace. Boncecrusher, despite having some formidable weaponry, didnt' always have the winning mentality, thus I think Ike would likely outwork him.

 

Yeah I don't think Smith is scoring a knockout here. He couldn't finish off Ferguson when he had him in trouble in 1986 which was arguably the best version of Smith. Ike had whiskers and a big punch. He was also in pretty good shape and had some mobility. I'd pick Ike either by decision or late stoppage.

 

Ruiz, Maskaev and Izon were where ibeabuchi was at that time. Untested. Neither of them had beaten anyone. They were not rated but they are fair wins.

Ruiz and Maskaev would proberbly describe those losses as an early blip. They both improved.

This is true. Bryd and Tua did indeed amount to something. After they fought Ike. It stands up that both were unbeaten but it is getting carried away to elevate ibeabuchi off the back of Byrd and Tua's later resume

I remember the Tua fight like yesterday. Tua was getting the beginnings of some write ups but he was among other prospects. It's not like he particularly stood out. The Tua fight was close. Nobody knew who Ike was. It was like Tua lost to a promising unknown guy.

Then there was the bog standard Everton Davis fight after quite a lay off and things went quiet until the Bryd win.

Does that make Ike beat Smith, who knows? But there is not much to go on. If Marty Monroe never fought Scott LeDoux but still beat Ron Lyle he could have ended his career at 20-0 too.

 

You keep harping on the Davis fight. Like you said, it occurred after a substantial layoff - Ike had fought less than a round (v. Tim Ray) in the 15 months since the Tua fight and was probably a little rusty. It's not necessary to include it in an ****ysis of Ike's quality. This is a prime for prime scenario. Just watch the Tua fight. One can see Ike is at or near his prime right there. Tua is close to prime as well. He certainly possessed speed and power and was in good physical shape, not overweight as he sometimes was later on. Tua had his faults but he possessed great power and a fair amount of speed. His power was pretty close to that of Bonecrusher. And he was faster. For his part, Ike possessed all the qualities then to beat a guy like Smith. This fantasy matchup is pretty easy to call. If Bonecrusher starts fast, Ike has the chin to soak up anything James can provide early. If he doesn't that's just a bonus for Ike. Ike's speed advantage and superior workrate builds him a points lead. Bonecrusher has the chin and survival skills to survive Ike's shots. He does not have the speed or stamina to keep up with Ike however. In the end, Ike wins a clearcut decision.

 

after having a good look, I am not a big fan of Smith and Ike had a limited career but I pick him here

 

I've just been watching some highlights of Ibeabuchi and I'm thinking he is way overrated including by myself.

 

If people are going to start using the Davis fight as their only means of questioning Ike's ability, then why don't we talk about at least half a dozen of Smith's? Ko'd by James Broad, outboxed by the weak chinned marvis Frazier, beaten by Adilson rodriguez, very nearly outpointed by Jose Ribalta in a fight that could have gone either way. . The list goes on and on.. Smith's biggest win was over Tim Witherspoon in a match that reeked like one of the biggest dives in heavyweight history.

 

Could go either way for me, I think Smith takes a real close one, he has the punch and the strong chin.Ike would make it real close, but Bone pulls it out.

 

Yea I agree and Tim was never a house on fire except for a few wins over young Bruno, Gonzales, and other chins that were cracked before....Smith had the look but limited .....Ike beat Tua or close and hurt Byrd

 

Smith takes this on points after surviving an early onslaught. narrow victory, disputed decision.

I'm not picking the nutjob unless his opponent had a really weak chin.

 

I don't see Smith Stopping Ike, when he couldn't finish Ferguson and Ike managed to take Tua's best for 12 rounds or whatever it was. I also don't see Smith busy or mobile enough to win a decision - Not that Ike was Muhammad Ali but still.. Due to his short and limited career, Ike Ibeabuchi will always remain a question mark in most people's minds and rightfully so.. But Ike beating James " Bonecrusher" Smith is not something that I have a whole lot of doubt about. Its not like we're asking how he'd do against a prime Holmes.

 

it remembers me to sonny liston..
2 names clay and patterson.. the rest garbage

 

About how I see it.

 

This is a interesting match up that I haven't seen done to death thus far :think

in your prime you have ENERGY, not just skills,,,,,,,

Ike had mad energy in his prime :think

I could see Ike winning a close decision over Smith by out working him. Naturally they both have the power to spark each other out with a great shot but more likely I would bet they would go the distance in a close fight.

 

Smith never really impressed me. He was limited and inconsistent, though dangerous at times.
I'm not sold on Ibeabuchi either but I'd pick him here.