Who would've beaten a sane, Ike Ibeabuchi in the early 2000s?

[QueensburyRules]

I think Tony Galento could have beaten him. Ike had lots of trouble with Tua, who was like Galento, but a little worse.

- -Galento KOed a bunch. Tua nor Ike never even knocked down near as I recall.

U Elmo or Big Bird?

[slicksouthpaw16]

I think, like most, you are underating Galanto. He was nonconventional and very bad defensively, but he was powerful as f u c, his legs were massive, and his shots could rock you.

I do think IBeuchi was very talented and would beat Galento. Tua...Probably as well. My heart tells me that Ibeuchi was phenomenal... But my head tells me we had to see more before he went off the reservation.

Being very bad defensively, always out of shape and going up against two heavy handed bombers (Ike and Tua) normally ends in a KO right? No secret as to why he was stopped in some of his biggest fights, often TKOs due to taking punishment.

He made a quote before the Louis fight that he "stopped smoking 2 or 3 days before" as if it was some sort of achievement. I see neither of these fights as being competitive. He simply didn't take his career or training seriously enough.

[billeau2]

Being very bad defensively, always out of shape and going up against two heavy handed bombers (Ike and Tua) normally ends in a KO right? No secret as to why he was stopped in some of his biggest fights, often TKOs due to taking punishment.

He made a quote before the Louis fight that he "stopped smoking 2 or 3 days before" as if it was some sort of achievement. I see neither of these fights as being competitive. He simply didn't take his career or training seriously enough.

Galento could end it with his power as well. He also was one of these guys who wanted people to think of him as you do when in fact? He trained harder than people think. He did his road work at night, and the smoking you refer to is cigars. he sparred many rounds as well. Also Tua and Ike are a bad match for Galento. But his chin held up to Max Bauer.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Galento could end it with his power as well. He also was one of these guys who wanted people to think of him as you do when in fact? He trained harder than people think. He did his road work at night, and the smoking you refer to is cigars. he sparred many rounds as well. Also Tua and Ike are a bad match for Galento. But his chin held up to Max Bauer.

He was a very good puncher, but having hotdog eating contests before fights (he actually did), smoking cigars (which is still tobacco either way) and drinking are reasons to believe he didn't take the sport as seriously as he could have. I agree Tua and Ike would be too much for him. I feel like if Tua and Ike could take each others bombs which they did, they shouldn't have any problems taking Galentos. Both seemingly had cast iron chins.

[Eff Pandas]

I think Lennox & Vitali woulda beaten him.

[billeau2]

He was a very good puncher, but having hotdog eating contests before fights (he actually did), smoking cigars (which is still tobacco either way) and drinking are reasons to believe he didn't take the sport as seriously as he could have. I agree Tua and Ike would be too much for him. I feel like if Tua and Ike could take each others bombs which they did, they shouldn't have any problems taking Galentos. Both seemingly had cast iron chins.

Dude was a character... According to Bauer he used to rub Tuna oil on himself to repulse.

[Tatabanya]

I would have paid to watch Ibeabuchi vs Andrew Golota in a battle of wrecked brains.

[kafkod]

Tua never beat a tall skilled heavyweight and neither did Ike. I'd pick Vits, Louis, Holyfield possibly to beat him. At that time I do think he beats Wlad.

He's one of these guys who has become massively overrated in time. He was a good B level HW, nothing more. One year after his close win over David Tua, Tua edged out a majority decision win over ATG HW Jeff Wooden W18 L8. Maybe Ike Ibeabuchi vs Jeff Wooden would have been a good fight, but let's not act like this guy was anything great.

You're right about Tua but Ike never had the chance to. He lost his marbles right when he was about to sign a multi fight HBO deal. I liked the way he approached the Byrd fight though from a stylistic standpoint. Even though he was being a bit out boxed, he kept throwing and applying pressure until he caught up. I think that pressure style would've given even rangier fighters problems, especially like Lewis and Vitali since they couldn't **** in close with him and his stamina was legit. I just wish we had a chance to see how/IF they would've fended him off. Vitali was in a shootout (and was unofficially decked by a Sanders left hook that wasn't called IMO). I think we can at least agree that Ike would be the most dangerous fighter on either of their record around that time. The heavyweight division was very weak in the early 2000s.

I think Evander was a bit too past it to handle Ike at that time, that fight could've only happened post Lennox series where he looked closer to shot than in his hay day. At least judging from the first fight. Been a while since I've seen the second one, but I recently watched and scored the first fight and gave Holyfield just 3 rounds and even those weren't decisive.

Maybe he would have been as ineffective as Tua was against Lewis. Wlad and Vitali also had the size and range to have maybe negated his offense in a similar way. But his strength, chin and incredible work rate were something special. I'm sure he would have been a major player in the division if he hadn't gone completely nuts.

[slicksouthpaw16]

Dude was a character... According to Bauer he used to rub Tuna oil on himself to repulse.

Lol definitely true. I also read that he purposely didn't shower for the same reason

[slicksouthpaw16]

Maybe he would have been as ineffective as Tua was against Lewis. Wlad and Vitali also had the size and range to have maybe negated his offense in a similar way. But his strength, chin and incredible work rate were something special. I'm sure he would have been a major player in the division if he hadn't gone completely nuts.

I pretty much feel the same way, especially when I think about how Wlad and Vitali both struggled a lot in the early 2000s, which would have likely ended up being Ike's peaking years. Wlad getting knocked out by both Sanders and Brewster (and almost by Peter), Vitali losing to Byrd and having physical injuries etc.