By Mark Butcher
WITH his wild eyes and excessive views, a harmful President could possibly be about to return and menace the world as we all know it.
Rumours that former heavyweight contender Ike ‘The President’ Ibeabuchi (20-0, 15 KOs) could be mounting an unlikely comeback touched actuality when a December 7 date with Egyptian Samy Abdalla (10-0-1, 3 KOs) was introduced in The Guardian Nigeria newspaper in mid-October.
The present in Port Harcourt, uniquely headlined ‘Simplified Rumble in Rivers for Champions,’ was endorsed by resident monarch King Iteke Tom, the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, with ringside celebrities set to incorporate ex-footballers Jay Jay Okocha and Finidi George in addition to the musician Burna Boy, a favorite of many readers of this journal.
However final week, Ibeabuchi, resembling Richard Roundtree within the film ‘Shaft’ and in wonderful form judging by current Instagram posts, introduced the present was off, for the meantime at the very least. “Bear in mind that the promoter has deserted the phrases of the contract with reference to coaching price and propaganda. Thanks and God bless.”
Shortly afterwards, Ibeabuchi re-emerged asking somebody to assist ahead him a $70,675,261 US Division of Justice cost, compensation for not preventing Lennox Lewis or Evander Holyfield, at present languishing in an American checking account exterior of his 77inch attain. Simply scan the QR code, what may go flawed? “I’m able to pay money. Hope to listen to from you quickly,” stated Ike optimistically.
However, in response to Boxrec, the comeback was again on with one other Egyptian Ayman Farouk Abbas (4-10-1, 1 KO) the person within the firing line.
Welcome again to the mad, dangerous world of Ike Ibeabuchi. Within the late Nineties, Ibeabuchi was the heavyweight division’s bogeyman, terrorising high tier fighters like Chris Byrd (WTKO5) and David Tua (W12). However his weird and more and more threatening antics exterior of the ring finally caught up with him simply earlier than a seemingly the inevitable world title shot many anticipated him to win.
After trapping a stripper in a Las Vegas lodge room in 1999, Ibeabuchi was incarcerated on a string of prices earlier than his launch in 2015, then despatched again to jail for violating parole in 2016. After Covid-19 restrictions had been lifted, he was deported again to his West African homeland over twenty years later.
Regardless of being 51, speak of a doubtlessly profitable Ibeabuchi comeback feels much less outlandish with Mike Tyson, 58, having lately fought. One may think about Ibeabuchi on this crossover period, ought to anybody be courageous sufficient to advertise boxing’s final free cannon.
A bullish Ibeabuchi was lately on YouTube calling out IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois whereas figuring out on a treadmill. “Hey Dubois! Congratulations you knocked Joshua out within the fifth spherical… I want that IBF belt! I’m the uncrowned champion…. I don’t suppose you may defeat Usyk with out defeating me. You’ve bought to undergo me, struggle me, that is my recommendation as a brother. Unbeaten fighter as I’m, nonetheless coaching, demanding my rights to be restored. While you struggle subsequent say you need Ike the President Ibeabuchi….You’ve bought struggle me, boy….I’m a nasty man, nobody defeats me. Thanks and God bless.”
Given Ibeabuchi’s earlier incarceration, a return and visa within the US or the UK would appear unlikely (regardless of social media murmurs of a Shannon Briggs struggle in Manchester) however a relaunch in Africa has no such limitations. ‘Hysteria in Nigeria’ or ‘Chaos in Lagos’ the struggle taglines write themselves.
After all, we’ll at all times be left questioning what Ibeabuchi may have achieved on the peak of powers. Revered creator Luke G. Williams wrote Ibeabuchi’s compelling biography, “President of Pandemonium: The Mad World of Ike Ibeabuchi“, the place he found that the heavyweight’s father, Sampson, dubbed ‘Pistor Killer’ and ‘Superman’, was a famed strongman, revered in Nigeria to this present day with a statue in Abia state the place he nonetheless holds legendary standing.
“Ibeabuchi may have gone all the best way,” Williams informed me. “He possessed every little thing a high heavyweight wants – steadiness, stamina, a titanium chin and intensely sound fundamentals, put in in him by the smart tutelage of Curtis Cokes. He additionally had the ruthless streak that most of the nice heavyweights possess – witness the pictures that almost decapitated the then unbeaten and far prevented Chris Byrd in March 1999.
“I believe Ike would have been an excessive amount of for Holyfield round that point and would have given Lewis an especially robust evening’s work. Like most of the compelling what-if tales that echo all through heavyweight historical past, nevertheless, he lacked the psychological stability to permit him to fulfil his potential. The very ingredient that induced his destruction can also be the ingredient that has stored so many followers fascinated by him.
“There’s nothing so compelling and tragic as wasted potential. Nonetheless, within the minimize throat world {of professional} boxing Ibeabuchi was by no means more likely to obtain the psychological well being help and therapy he so badly required. Now previous 50 he’s nonetheless coaching and dreaming of some type of fistic redemption. In opposition to all my higher instincts I can’t assist however root for him – if getting again within the ring brings him some type of fragile peace and closure, even inside the context of some sort of borderline freak present occasion then I’m all in for it.
“The world of Ike is really surreal. By the top of writing the ebook, I couldn’t wait to get away from all of it. Unbelievably, I’d say he appears a bit extra sane now than in his heyday. I believe the difficulty could be getting out of Nigeria.”
Again in September 1998, in his penultimate struggle, Ibeabuchi stopped Everton Davis in 9 rounds on the Trump Taj Mahal. Perhaps Donald was within the constructing that evening. Two Presidents headed in several instructions, both aspect of the bars. And, regardless of their superior years, Donald and Ike aren’t going away any time quickly.
“President of Pandemonium: The Mad World of Ike Ibeabuchi“ by Luke G. Williams is revealed by Hamilcar and out there by way of Amazon.
