Ike Ibeabuchi

Ikemefula Charles "Ike" Ibeabuchi (born February 2, 1973) is a Nigerian former professional boxer who competed from 1994 to 1999 in the heavyweight division. He defeated highly ranked contender David Tua in 1997 and future world champion Chris Byrd in 1999. After compiling a record of 20–0 with 15 knockouts, Ibeabuchi was imprisoned in Las Vegas in July 1999, after submitting an Alford plea. In November 2015, Ibeabuchi was released from the custody of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) after completing his 16-year Nevada state prison sentence without incident. He announced his desire to return to the ring to resume his professional boxing career, but was rearrested before a comeback could take place.

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

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 three college associate degrees from Western Nevada Community College, in General Studies, Business, and Management. He also earned a paralegal certificate by correspondence from Blackstone Career Institute in Allentown, Pennsylvania. His Las Vegas conviction was overturned by the Nevada Supreme Court in 2007 and he expected to be released, but the lower courts abandoned the ruling. The Nevada Supreme Court subsequently affirmed its earlier ruling of its overturning of Ibeabuchi's Las Vegas conviction again, and Ibeabuchi is still fighting for his innocence and to have his name cleared, after his release.

Release, planned comeback, and rearrest

Ibeabuchi completed his sentence in the Nevada Department of Corrections. However, Ibeabuchi was moved in Nevada to first to the Washoe County Jail on February 28, 2014, and then transferred by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to the Eloy Detention Center in Eloy, Arizona.^[5]

Ibeabuchi was released by USCIS in November 2015 as a free man when Nigeria declined to provide travel documents. Ibeabuchi enlisted the help of Mike Koncz, an adviser of Manny Pacquiao, in an attempt to make a boxing comeback. In good health, Ibeabuchi hoped to fight his first comeback bout in the near future, but was waiting to resolve his immigration and United States citizenship status with USCIS first. His green card and citizenship papers were applied for in good standing and in order.^[6] However, in April 2016, Ibeabuchi was arrested for violating conditions of his probation in Gilbert, Arizona.^[7]

Ibabuchi, who remains on lifetime probation in the State of Arizona, failed to begin a required treatment program.

Professional boxing record

No.	Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, time	Date	Location	Notes
20	Win	20–0	Chris Byrd	TKO	5 (10), 2:59	20 Mar 1999	Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.
19	Win	19–0	Everton Davis	TKO	9 (10), 2:34	4 Sep 1998	Etess Arena, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
18	Win	18–0	Tim Ray	TKO	1 (8), 2:33	9 Jul 1998	Grand Casino Avoyelles, Marksville, Louisiana, U.S.
17	Win	17–0	David Tua	UD	12	7 Jun 1997	ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.	Won WBC International heavyweight title
16	Win	16–0	Marcos Gonzalez	KO	4 (8), 0:25	8 May 1997	Wyndham Anatole, Dallas, Texas, U.S.
15	Win	15–0	Marion Wilson	UD	10	6 Mar 1997	Convention Hall, Asbury Park, New Jersey, U.S.
14	Win	14–0	Calvin Jones	TKO	2 (10), 2:39	9 Jan 1997	Wilshire Hotel, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.
13	Win	13–0	Rodney Blount	KO	3	5 Dec 1996	Brady Theater, Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
12	Win	12–0	Anthony Wade	PTS	8	8 Nov 1996	Arizona Charlie's Decatur, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
11	Win	11–0	Herman Delgado	TKO	4 (8), 2:59	8 Aug 1996	Civic Center, Lake Charles, Louisiana, U.S.
10	Win	10–0	Mike Acklie	TKO	1 (8), 1:12	24 May 1996	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
9	Win	9–0	Gary Butler	KO	1 (8), 0:53	11 Apr 1996	Dallas, Texas, U.S.
8	Win	8–0	Calvin Lampkin	KO	2, 0:35	2 Nov 1995	Music Hall, Austin, Texas, U.S.
7	Win	7–0	Greg Pickrom	TKO	3 (6), 2:59	9 Sep 1995	Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
6	Win	6–0	Terry Porter	RTD	3	25 Aug 1995	Music Hall, Austin, Texas, U.S.
5	Win	5–0	Martin Lopez	KO	1	20 Jun 1995	Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
4	Win	4–0	Keith Walton	UD	6	10 Mar 1995	Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
3	Win	3–0	Ron McGowan	KO	3	26 Jan 1995	Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.
2	Win	2–0	Calvin Lampkin	UD	4	2 Dec 1994	Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
1	Win	1–0	Ismael Garcia	KO	2	13 Oct 1994	Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S.	Professional debut

References

External links

• Professional boxing record for Ike Ibeabuchi from BoxRec