Ike ibeabuchi

A young boy slugs his way out of a third world ghetto and into the pro boxing stratosphere, only to fall victim to mental illness, ike ibeabuchi, depravity, and what some have ike ibeabuchi "demonic possession. As a boy in Nigeria, Ike was exposed to boxing, but he was also exposed to poverty, crime, hopelessness, and a glaring lack of education.

He defeated the previously undefeated highly ranked contender David Tua in and another highly ranked contender and future world champion Chris Byrd in He was ranked by BoxRec as the world's No. After a series of run-ins with law enforcement, he was imprisoned in Las Vegas in July , after submitting an Alford plea for charges on sexual misconduct. This also marked the end of his professional boxing career. He announced his desire to return to the ring to resume his professional boxing career, but was rearrested before his comeback could take place. Ike planned on joining the Nigerian military before he witnessed Buster Douglas knock out Mike Tyson in

Ike ibeabuchi

I was an Ike Ibeabuchi fan the moment I watched his battle with David Tua on a pirated video I ordered from a classified ad in the back of Boxing Monthly magazine. The Nigerian powerhouse seemed to have everything needed to win the heavyweight title — except mental stability. A few years after he was jailed for battery and sexual assault, I decided to go digging in search of the real Ike Ibeabuchi, aiming to discover what built and then broke the man who had the boxing world at his feet after he destroyed Chris Byrd in While researching the book that would become President of Pandemonium: The Mad World of Ike Ibeabuchi , I spoke to thirty people who knew Ike — including those who fought him, managed him, advised him and reported on him. I discovered that some thought he was insane, while others thought he was more sinned against than sinner. W hen I spoke to Ike Ibeabuchi on a February afternoon in , he could scarcely believe he was free. Or maybe he had become too hardened by his tour of federal institutions. Being removed from a place inhabited by killers and rapists and placed in suburbia must be disorientating. Out of the harsh and dehumanizing experience of an ICE detention center, or the sterile menace of a maximum-security prison, Ibeabuchi could now enjoy the unbroken sight of winter sunshine and the soft breeze blowing in from the desert. Regardless, since his release from custody, he had sat here for hours fixated on the world heavyweight championship he still believed was his destiny, despite the fact it was nearly seventeen years since he had thrown a punch in a prizefight. As he fielded messages on his cell phone from promotional and media bloodsuckers and posed for grainy photographs in boxing gear — snarl still on his bearded face — it must have been easy to convince himself that he still had a shot at the heavyweight title. Ike Ibeabuchi right in his classic showdown with fierce power-puncher David Tua.

Comment Express Comment Columnists. Though small for a modern-day heavyweight, he was an extremely slippery southpaw who in would beat Klitschko when Vitali retired injured after nine rounds then go the round distance with his brother Wladimir, ike ibeabuchi.

A former fighter who was tipped to become the next Mike Tyson instead served 20 years in jail after a series of personal issues sent his troubled life spiralling out of control. Ike Ibeabuchi retired in with an undefeated record but that is only half the story of the man they nicknamed 'The President'. The Nigerian became the most talked about fighter in his division when he extended his record to 17 straight wins in June against David Tua in an epic contest for the WBC International Heavyweight title. Tua had come into the fight with a record of his own but after the congregation witnessed the most punches ever thrown in a heavyweight contest 1, , it was Ibeabuchi who returned a unanimous verdict, elevating him to world title contender. But shortly after that landmark victory, the prospective champion's serious mental health problems caught up with him. After kidnapping his estranged girlfriend's year-old son, he drove his car head-first into a tree with the boy in the passenger seat.

The name Ike Ibeabuchi still resonates with fight fans. To this day, we all wonder how much this skilled, strong, powerful and tough heavyweight might have gone on to achieve had he not imploded the way he did shortly after what turned out to be his last appearance in the ring — this an explosive KO win over Chris Byrd in March of Ibeabuchi was then 26 years of age, he was a perfect 15 and he seemed set not only for a title shot, but for a reign, perhaps a long and dominant one, as world heavyweight champion. Punching power? Size and strength?

Ike ibeabuchi

Mike Tyson bout in Tokyo. The fighters set a CompuStat heavyweight division record with 1, punches thrown at that time , with each fighter walking right through the punches. In only his seventeenth professional fight, Ibeabuchi outpointed Tua for the win and Ibeabuchi emerged as the top contender for the world heavyweight title.

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Ibeabuchi was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was sent to a state facility. Music Hall, Austin, Texas , U. The heavyweight average is around Everton Davis. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. The girl insisted on a cash payment up front, which enraged Ike to the extent that he forced her into a closet and raped her. David Tua. Incredibly, Ibeabuchi was permitted to continue boxing, where his madness seemed to work for him. At times when he was being churlish or refusing to complete a simple requirement such as attending a weigh-in, his handlers would appeal to The President's regal nature by convincing him it was the noble thing to do. Greatest Hits: Tim Bradley. Both boxers A grew up more or less destitute B rose to dizzying heights as heavyweight bangers with finesse C drove their autos into inert objects D allegedly assaulted several women E cited mental illness as the reason for their idiotic hijinks and, F spent most of their respective primes behind bars. Ibeabuchi was released on bail and placed under house arrest , able to train and fight again until his trial. Fort Worth, Texas , U.

After 20 years in and out of the prison system, Ike Ibeabuchi who was one of the hottest prospects in heavyweight boxing before several run-ins with the law in the United States of America, has once again regained freedom. Born in Nigeria, Ibeabuchi who first migrated to the United States of America at the age of 19 in had several run-ins with the law before he was arrested in Las Vegas over alleged sexual assault attempt on a year-old stripper. After being accused of rape, he was initially released and placed under house arrest before another case of alleged sexual assault from eight months earlier at another hotel was opened against him.

Yet his assault of a year-old escort in Las Vegas put an end to that. Ibeabuchi's devastated mother claimed that her son had been the victim of a complex conspiracy. From the Archive. He changed trainers at least once — some claimed it was twice — and got into a confrontation with a sparring partner which caused that training partner to leave his camp. Contents move to sidebar hide. Boxing fans love to debate what could have been, particularly when it comes to wasted or unfulfilled talent. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. In a pathetic incident of what we now call "air rage," cops had to forcibly detain the incensed pugilist. Come Out Writing The eye test of time. My strength is that I have not been defeated. Building Bridges. He developed a new persona based on his presidential nickname, believing he truly was a world leader. You can unsubscribe at any time. US Edition. According to the criminal complaint, the boy suffered 'numerous injuries' from the accident 'and will never walk normally again'.