Ike Ibeabuchi

Ike Ibeabuchi (September 21, 1973) (born in Isuochi, Nigeria) is a former professional heavyweight boxer who defeated highly ranked contender David Tua and future heavyweight titlist Chris Byrd. Ibeabuchi's ring nickname is "The President." After compiling a record of 20-0 with 15 knockouts, he was imprisoned in Las Vegas in July 1999, after submitting an Alford plea. As of October 2014, Ibeabuchi remains a detainee the custody of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and is being detained pending deportation at the Eloy Detention Center in Eloy, Arizona, after completing his 16 year Nevada State prison sentence without incident.

Amateur career

Ike planned on joining the Nigerian military before he witnessed Buster Douglas knock out Mike Tyson in 1990. Inspired by the fight, Ike started boxing as an amateur. Ike twice defeated countryman and eventual 1996 Olympic Bronze medalist Duncan Dokiwari. Ibeabuchi emigrated to United States and moved to the Dallas area with his mother in 1993/ Ibeabuchi won the Dallas and Texas State Golden Gloves tournaments at heavyweight in 1994.

Professional career

Under the guidance of former world welterweight champion Curtis Cokes, Ike made his professional debut at heavyweight with a second round knockout of Ismael Garcia on October 13, 1994.

Battle with David Tua

After winning 16 straight fights from the start of his career, Ike made a big jump in competition and fought undefeated prospect David Tua for the WBC International Heavyweight title on June 7, 1997. Tua was 27-0 and considered by many analysts to be 'the next Mike Tyson'.

Both boxers threw bombs and neither took a backward step all night. Ibeabuchi and Tua set a CompuStat heavyweight division record with 1,730 punches thrown. Ike also set the individual CompuStat record by throwing 975 punches and averaging 81 per round. The heavyweight average is around 50. Ibeabuchi won a unanimous 12 round decision over Tua with scores of 117-111, 116-113, and 115-114. The fight established Ibeabuchi as the top contender for the world heavyweight title.

Troubles outside the ring

A couple of months after the Tua fight, Ibeabuchi abducted the 15-year-old son of his former girlfriend and slammed his car into a concrete pillar on Interstate 35 north of Austin, Texas. According to the criminal complaint, the boy suffered 'numerous injuries' from the accident 'and will never walk normally again'. The courts concluded Ibeabuchi was trying to commit suicide, and he was sentenced to 120 days in jail after pleading guilty to false imprisonment. Ibeabuchi also paid a $500,000 civil settlement.

Ibeabuchi developed a new persona based on his nickname, 'The President'. 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. "There were times when he thought he was really a president," boxing promoter and former HBO Sports executive Lou DiBella said. "He would get into these mental states where he insisted on people calling him 'The President'. It was his alter ago, where 'I am The President,' not of the United States, but maybe president of the world."

Once, Ibeabuchi wielded a knife during a dinner meeting in New York to discuss a possible three fight HBO deal. "We were having a fine meal at a nice restaurant," Promoter Cedric Kushner said, "and mid-course Ike picked up a big carving knife, slammed it into the table and screamed 'They knew it! They knew it! The belts belong to me! Why don't they just give them back?'" "That was a peculiar experience," Kushner said. "That wasn't the type of conduct I expected to romance the guy from HBO. He (Ibeabuchi) was like a Viking."^[1][2]

Comeback

Ibeabuchi returned to the ring after thirteen months inactivity, and scored a first-round knockout over Tim Ray in July 1998. Two months later, he stopped Everton Davis in nine rounds.

Ibeabuchi's next fight was against Chris Byrd in March 1999. Byrd, a 1992 Olympic silver medalist and a future world heavyweight champion, was a quick and slick southpaw with a record of 26–0.

After four rounds, the three judges had the fight scored evenly: 38–38 even, 39-37 for Ibeabuchi, and 39–37 for Byrd. In the fifth round, Ibeabuchi landed a devastating left hook which sent Byrd to the canvas. Byrd made it back to his feet, but was quickly knocked back down. Byrd once again rose, but was trapped against the ropes and taking punishment as the referee waved it off at the 2:59 mark.^[3]

Following the win over Byrd, Ibeabuchi turned down $700,000 to fight fringe contender Jeremy Williams, and also turned down $1 million for a showdown with the undefeated Michael Grant.^[4]

Imprisonment and release

In July 1999, Ibeabuchi was staying at The Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas when he phoned a local escort service and had a woman sent to his room. The 21-year-old woman said later she was there to strip and nothing else. She claimed Ibeabuchi attacked her in the walk-in closet after she demanded to be paid up front. Ibeabuchi barricaded himself in the bathroom and police discharged pepper spray under the door until he surrendered.

Ibeabuchi's legal defense faced the further difficulty of the Clark County DA's reopening of a similar sexual assault allegation against him from eight months earlier which took place at Treasure Island Hotel and Casino. Ibeabuchi was released on bail and placed under house arrest, able to train and fight again until his trial. He was remanded after two more similar allegations surfaced from Arizona.

Ibeabuchi was deemed incompetent to stand trial and was sent to a state facility. Medical experts concluded he exhibited bipolar disorder and a judge granted permission to force-medicate him. Eight months later, two and a half years after his arrest, he was ruled cogent enough to plea.

Ibeabuchi subsequently entered an Alford plea, pleading guilty while not admitting guilt to avoid going to trial. Ibeabuchi was sentenced to two to ten years for battery with intent to commit a crime (from which he was later paroled), and three to 20 years for attempted sexual assault, with the sentences to be served consecutively.

While incarcerated, Ibeabuchi earned two college degrees from Western Nevada Community College: an Associate of General Studies and an Associate of Applied Science in General Business. Ibeabuchi completed his sentence in the Nevada Department of Corrections in 2014. However, Ibeabuchi was moved in Nevada to first to the Washoe County Jail, and then officially transferred by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the Eloy Detention Center in Eloy, Arizona, as a detainee pending deportation proceedings to send him back to his native Nigeria. Concerns over the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa might have temporarily affected pending deportations of African citizens by ICE.^[5]

Professional boxing record

20 Wins (15 knockouts), 0 Losses, 0 Draws
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	20–0	Chris Byrd	TKO	5 (10)	20/03/1999	Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, United States	Byrd down twice in the 5th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	19–0	Everton Davis	TKO	9 (10)	04/09/1998	Trump Taj Mahal, Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States	Davis down once in the 1st and twice in the 9th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	18–0	Tim Ray	TKO	1 (8)	09/07/1998	Grand Casino Avoyelles, Marksville, Louisiana, United States	Ray down once.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	17–0	David Tua	UD	12	07/06/1997	ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, United States	Won WBC International heavyweight title.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	16–0	Marcos Gonzalez	KO	4 (8)	08/05/1997	Wyndham Anatole Hotel, Dallas, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	15–0	Marion Wilson	UD	10	06/03/1997	Convention Center, Asbury Park, New Jersey, United States	Wilson deducted a point in the 5th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	14–0	Calvin Jones	TKO	2 (10)	09/01/1997	Beverly Hills, California, United States	Jones down 3 times in the 2nd round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	13–0	Rodney Blount	KO	3 (?)	05/12/1996	Brady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	12–0	Anthony Wade	PTS	8	08/11/1996	Arizona Charlie's, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	11–0	Herman Delgado	TKO	4 (8)	08/08/1996	Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States	Delgado down twice in the 4th round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	10–0	Mike Acklie	TKO	1 (8)	24/05/1996	Dallas, Texas, United States	Acklie down twice.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	9–0	Gary Butler	KO	1 (8)	11/04/1996	Dallas, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	8–0	Calvin Lampkin	KO	2 (?)	02/11/1995	Austin, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	7–0	Greg Pickrom	TKO	3 (?)	09/09/1995	Fort Worth, Texas, United States	Pickrom down once in the 3rd round.
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	6–0	Terry Porter	TKO	3 (?)	25/08/1995	Austin, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	5–0	Martin Lopez	KO	1 (?)	20/06/1995	Fort Worth, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	4–0	Keith Walton	UD	6	10/03/1995	Fort Worth, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	3–0	Ron McGowan	KO	3 (?)	26/01/1995	Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	2–0	Calvin Lampkin	PTS	4	02/12/1994	Fort Worth, Texas, United States
style="background:#bfd; color:black; vertical-align:middle; text-align:center; " class="table-yes2" |Win	1–0	Ismael Garcia	KO	2 (?)	13/10/1994	Shreveport, Louisiana, United States

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Ike Ibeabuchi from BoxRec