Ike Ibeabuchi

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ikemefula "Ike" Charles Ibeabuchi (born February 2, 1973 in Isuochi, Nigeria) is a undefeated heavyweight boxer who after defeating two highly ranked contenders was imprisoned.

Contents 1 Amateur career 2 Pro career 2.1 Battle with Tua 2.2 Troubles outside the ring 2.3 Comeback 3 Imprisonment 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Amateur career

Ibeabuchi was born in Nigeria in 1973. After a short amateur career that saw him beat Duncan Dokiwari Ike moved from his native Nigeria to America to start his professional career under the guidance of former welterweight champion Curtis Cokes. Just before turning pro, Ike became a Golden Gloves champion.

[edit] Pro career

In 1994 he made his debut scoring a second round knockout of Ismael Garcia, after this he racked up a record of 16-0 against mostly journeymen opponents.

[edit] Battle with Tua

Up to this point he was an unknown heavyweight but was then put in with undefeated super prospect David Tua . At the start of the fight Ibeabuchi came out very fast throwing powerful combinations to Tua’s body and head, while blocking most of Tua’s punches, Ike managed to throw 91 punches in the first and second round (the heavyweight average is around 50). After Ike dominated the first 4-5 rounds Tua managed to get back into the fight by winning some of the middle rounds but Ike won the later rounds to take the fight by UD. The fight holds the record for most punches thrown in a heavyweight contest beating the previous record Ali-Frazier III, remarkable since Ali-Frazier went two more rounds. Ike Ibeabuchi also broke the record of most punches ever thrown by an individual heavyweight averaging at 81 punches a round. After the fight Ike complained of severe pains in his head he went to the hospital and was given a brain scan which found nothing unusual.

[edit] Troubles outside the ring

Ike was now one of the most feared heavyweights in the world and was tipped by many to be the next great heavyweight champion but soon Ike began to experience personal problems. He was involved in a bout of air rage soon after the fight with Tua and began to claim he could see demons that would torment him. Ike was then involved in another incident a short while later. He abducted the son of his former girlfriend, threw him into his car, and drove straight into a concrete pillar, permanently injuring the boy. This earned Ike a 2 month prison sentence and he was forced to pay the boy’s family an undisclosed fee. As a result of prison stint and violent behavior many promoters were wary of associating with Ibeabuchi thus severely hindering his chances for a World title fight. ^[1]

[edit] Comeback

After 12 months out of the ring Ike returned with a first round KO of club fighter Tim Ray, he then scored a ninth round KO over journeyman Everton Davis.

His career culminated with a crushing knockout of undefeated Chris Byrd, and as quickly as he rose, he fell from the boxing scene. Ike's fight with Byrd in 1999 was to be his last as a professional.

[edit] Imprisonment

Ibeabuchi's career was cut short in 2001 when he was convicted of raping an exotic dancer and was sentenced 5 to 30 years in prison at the Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada. Ibeabuchi had barricaded himself and the woman in a hotel room, and the police needed to use tear gas to subdue him. Since his incarceration, Ibeabuchi has earned two college degrees from Western Nevada Community College: an Associate of General Studies; and an Associate of Applied Science in General Business. ^[2]

Ibeabuchi was denied parole in August 2004 and again in August 2007. He will be eligible for parole in Nevada again in December 2010, when he will be 37 years old. After a decade of inactivity, his boxing career is likely over. ^[3]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Professional boxing record for Ike Ibeabuchi from Boxrec
• Ike Ibeabuchi's famous left-handed bolo punch used to K.O Chris Byrd in 1999 (YouTube)