The Ibea - Tua doesn't sound right. Big guys doesn't hit as many times as small guys for the same use of energy and effect. Just like an eagle doesn't "flap" as many times as a tiny bird. It is just nature. It would be more interesting to get a p4p # punches per round.
You're right, it wasn't...they didn't throw 1000 punches each. That's never happened in a heavyweight fight, at least not one with the punchstats tallied (and that includes stuff like Ali-Frazier III and Holyfield-Bowe II). Ibeabuchi threw 972, Tua 756.
Shouldn't be that difficult or rare really. Gamboa throws around 115 punches in this first round without breaking a sweat. [yt]hnTsSjoNPHE[/yt]
Antonio Tarver threw 97 against Glen Johnson in their first fight, round three. Not too bad for a older LHW.