Ikemefula Charles Ibeabuchi vs. James McKenzie Witt Morrison

Apparently agreed by both sides, exact date announcement to come. Life is stranger than fiction.

Come fight night the recently paroled Ike will have already celebrated his 52nd birthday. Kenzie - son of the late Tommy "Duke" Morrison, is a comparatively spry 34 (born when the Nigerian was already old enough to vote, but cigarettes and enlist in the army).

The whippersnapper stands at 6'4" with a 22-1-2 (20) record, his career highlight to date a stoppage over his then fellow unbeaten son-of-a-HW-champ Hasim Rahman, Jr. in 2022. As for the 6'2" veteran, he left off a perfect 20-0 (15) before his lengthy prison bid and boasts the professional cherries of both Chris Byrd and David Tua...but hasn't competed since the literal 20th century.

 

What happened with the fight Ike was recently scheduled to have?

 

Ibeabuchi is going to get beat up he's too old and slow taking on a 34 year old

 

It didn't happen, and I am guessing this one won't either.

 

I thought this was in the wrong thread for a second, Ibeabuchi V Morrison is helluva throwback headline name for a fight.

Morrison is too active and too young for anyone that last fought in the 1990s.

 

I wanna see old Ibeabuchi vs Mike Tyson

 

Cancelled by promoters I believe.

 

I think Ike's in good physical conditions. Posted a 20 minute video of him doing barbell curls in some Nigerian gym. Also hitting pads. But the age factor is probably the biggest age factor in ANY matchup. Kenzie is at his physical apex but he isn't that active (his last 3 fights are all approx. 1 year apart) professionally. He also lost a UD to Robert Simms and was also losing on all scorecards prior to knocking down Rahman Jr with his family signature left hook and later TKO'ing him. That being said, styles also make fights.

Rahman Jr led on the scorecards by keeping his distance with his jab, and when he was able to, threw crosses, hooks and would target the body, reminiscent of how Ibeabuchi outpointed Tua.

I would classify Ibeabuchi as a boxer puncher, as he fits Wikipedia's criteria for one:
"outstanding jab combination" - demonstrated against Tua
"and/or counter-punching skills" - also demonstrated against Tua
"better defense and accuracy than a slugger, while possessing brawler-type power." - although his defense wasn't that potent to stop the evil spirits, his defense was a major key to outpointing Tua. He also cracked Byrd's chin.
"The boxer-puncher may also be more willing to fight in an aggressive swarmer-style than an out-boxer" - demonstrated against Tua & Byrd

I would classify Morrison as a slugger, as he fits Wikipedia's criteria for one:
"Some have the ability to corner their opponents to ensure they fall prey to their devastating punches" - demonstrated against Rahman
"the slugger (brawler, puncher) embodies its brutality and ruthlessness" - demonstrated against Rahman: he attempted to walk down Rahman when being held at bay via the jab.
"they smother their opponents and leave them vulnerable to power-punches" - demonstrated against Rahman: always pressed him against the ropes, or tried to get him against the ropes.

Rahman Jr was only stopped because he fell under pressure, Morrison walked him down and Rahman was kept against the ropes, but also take into consideration Rahman Jr would have his lucky moments, slipping from the ropes, moving and holding Morrison off with the jab.
Ibeabuchi however can take the smoke and pressure of a slugger or an infighter and isn't one to fight against the ropes.

But Morrison is taller than Ibeabuchi by 2 inches and has a longer reach by 3' (i think?). But Ike can navigate through taller opponents who opt to slug it out. He beat Calvin Jones via 2nd-round TKO, who is 2 inches taller than Morrison, 4 inches taller than Ibeabuchi but has the same reach advantage as is Morrison against Ibeabuchi. (

This content is protected

). Though Morrison is lighter than Jones by 60 pounds, so Ibeabuchi has to be more cautious.

Stylistically, Ike would get the better of Kenzie and despite his size disadvantage would outbox him.
Prime-for-prime, Ike would stop Kenzie in the opening 4 rounds.
Realistically, Ike's only chance is to outbox Kenzie and win by decision. Kenzie could try to walk Ike down but if Ike can use his jab and can still counterpunch and defend himself adequately, Kenzie will have to get lucky.

But not only is Ibeabuchi 18 years older than Morrison, he's also spent 16 years behind bars. Although he has said he had trained in prison, if he does fight Morrison, this will be the first time he would be fighting in 26 years, the longest interval between two professional bouts, surpassing Mike Tyson's 19 year pro hiatus and current Guiness World titleholder Sal Cenicola's 25 year hiatus. Curtis Cokes, the former welterweight champion and trainer of Ibeabuchi has also passed away, and in recent training videos, he's being trained by people in a public gym who probably don't know who Cokes is. After seeing some of his mittwork and sparring on his Youtube channel, the potency and power of his jab has diminished.

So, who would win if they fought in the following months?
Ibeabuchi, IF he can resharpen his jab. If it were a 6-rounder the scorecard would probably be 58-56. If it were an 8 rounder the scorecard would probably be 76-76. But if Ike can't resharpen his distance-keeping jab, he could be in trouble.

 

If he packs glass like the old man, Morrison could be in trouble.

My guess however is that Ibeabuchi at this point will be SO slow that he won't be able to take advantage of any hereditary mandibular weakness in the Morrison line

 

Spry and 34 shouldn't belong in the same sentence, but oddly it fits here perfectly.

I don't know how to feel about this, I'd feel like I was watching a snuff film if I watched this

Specimen or not, I can't imagine Ike being even remotely serviceable as a fighter and he's closer to the "upper room" than he is diapers. Sideshows with names attached do have the ability to attract people though so I guess..............

 

Ibeabuchi too old for Morrison, although Morrison is not a particularly good fighter he should win this...

 

#1 This fight won’t happen

#2 whatever happened to Trey Morrison? He was with Freddie Roach then showed up fat got stopped then into a bad car wreck. Is he done? Anyone know?

 

If I recall correctly, he is having trouble getting licensed since the car accident.

 

Ok, that's all I can take. I'm coming out of retirement and I'm calling out Roberto Duran. We're about the same weight now.
Undercard of the next Jake or Josh Paul fight in India. Would be fun to see Duran go no Mas after a vindaloo lunch.

 

This content is protected

This content is protected

This content is protected