Ike was gifted physically in many ways, he lacked agility and footwork though. Could be exposed for being simply a high volume stiff plodder. I find that Vitali Klitschko is the most gifted. Cast iron chin, massive power, great stamina, high volume, very agile and fleet of foot for a 6’8” man. Looked like an Adonis too, couldn’t get much better in terms of boxing attributes and physical stature.
im going strictly off of memory here so if mistaken that’s why. But from what I remember his team said he was hearing voices after the Tua fight and the escort was barricaded into the closet or something and they had to send in the swat team after a stand off with him. Plus I believe he assaulted a few women prior to this incident.
This. Ike got a kidnapping charge for barricading the escort and kidnapping charges are no joke. Ike’s priors along with him beating up several prison guards while awaiting trial also really pissed the judge off handling his case, so Ike didn’t do himself any favors while fighting his case.
Not enough fights to accurately gauge Ike's physical capabilities, nor how great he might have been. Gonna guess not many were watching boxing when he was fighting (yes, I know how snobby that sounds). He was an impressive physical specimen, that's for certain. Iron chin and seemingly unlimited stamina. He did to Chris Byrd what virtually no one else was able to, including the K bros. But his early exit allowed too many questions. One thing is for sure, I'd pick him over any of today's HW's. As well as most of those during the K Bro reign. Also, I firmly believe he'd have continued to improved as a pro, since he was done after only 18 fights and off to jail.
I thought he beat Tua comfortably but he took a hell of a lot of bombs from him. No wonder he was hearing voices after. Who knows how those shots would have affected him later on? I like Ike but those were the kind of punches great fighters take on the downslide, not on the way up.
Being huge with a good gas tank isn't what I would call physically gifted when coupled with his extremely basic approach
This is true. If the OP is gonna make size so important, it is easy to justify a SHW with a huge height & reach, not someone a mere 6' 2". Also Ike was not 240 + in his best shape. He was 235 vs. Tua, was that not his peak?
You can make a good case here. Except he was not more than 6' 7", & people constantly say that he was an arm puncher. I have never heard him described as a massive puncher, unlike his Brother. He hit hard in part due to size, but do you think most everyone is wrong in saying he does not have great power?
Fury has far quicker feet and so did Ali, Ike`s combo hand speed was nowhere near Ali`s, Louis had better balance.
Yes, 91% KO ratio, the highest of any HW champ ever. He can clearly punch very damn hard, you need to I’m order to have that high a KO ratio. Wlad had more power, doesn’t mean Vitali didn’t have massive power himself. He also threw a lot more of those power punches. Also some guys throw really powerful arm punches alone, my arm punches are pretty heavy for a guy my size I can tell you that. Albeit I’m a strawweight really, I was told I punch hard in sparring where I go 50% max by my mate who has an iron chin and is 30kgs heavier than me. I badly hurt his rib with an arm punch before. So some people don’t need to throw full force to have a hard punch, it’s just there. Technique is most important though.
Okay, thanks for providing more detail. I thought he did exactly what Wilder did when a prostitute accused Wilder of strangling her, but if he had a track record of being a piece of chit to women, then he got his comeuppance. To be sure this is fact, and not just heresay, it would be good to read the official documents showing what he was charged for.
