Ike "The President" Ibeabuchi (1997/Tua) v. "Merciless" Ray Mercer (1996/Lewis)

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by dcarlota, Jan 23, 2025.


ANNIHILATORS! - Who wins?

  1. Ibeabuchi via PTS

    2 vote(s)
    40.0%
  2. Ibeabuchi via KO

    1 vote(s)
    20.0%
  3. Mercer via KO

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%
  4. Mercer via PTS

    2 vote(s)
    40.0%
  1. dcarlota

    dcarlota Member Full Member

    370
    388
    Nov 6, 2024
    Both were brutal knockout artists, both were feared in the division and both were annihilators! Who wins this one hell of a fight?
    I heard that Ike was calling out Ray prior to his incarceration, and wanted to be the first man to stop him (before Wlad).

    IKEMEFULA IBEABUCHI'S FEATS (at the time)
    - Went the distance with the hard-hitting heavyweight prospect and then reigning WBC Intl. heavyweight champion David 'Terminator' Tua.
    - Knocked out well-known journeyman Marion Wilson
    - Became Dallas & Texas' Golden Gloves super-heavyweight champion in 1994 (amateurs)
    - Beat fellow Nigerian & Atlanta Olympic Bronze medalist Duncan Dokiwari twice before moving to Dallas (amateurs)
    - 71% KO rate

    RAYMOND MERCER'S FEATS (at the time)
    - Went the distance with future undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, former undisputed heavyweight & cruiserweight champion Evander Holyfield, former WBC, IBF, Ring heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, former WBC, WBA heavyweight champion Tim Witherspoon, and well-known heavyweight contender Jesse Ferguson.
    - Went the distance with future WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, amateur boxing all-time great Felix Savon, virtually unknown future #1 heavyweight contender Zeljko Mavrovic (amateurs)
    - Knocked out amateur rival & future WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison (professionally) - as reigning WBO champion, and knocked out then WBO champion Francisco Damiani.
    - 70% KO rate
     
  2. Devon

    Devon Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,443
    5,630
    Dec 31, 2018
    Mercer on points, more proven and Ibeabuchi had a very close fight with Tua, Mercer has a better jab, is a better boxer and can fight up close as good as Tua if not better, he just wasn’t as active, but if he came prepared and in shape, he could be active enough, he threw more sophisticated combinations than Ibeabuchi, Mercer would land that uppercut frequently as Ibeabuchi closes the distance.
     
    drenlou and Clinton like this.