Once described as a man “who saw demons and knocked heavyweights out,” Ike Ibeabuchi (born Ikemefula Charles Ibeabuchi) conquered all before him except the demons within.
The manner in which Ibeabuchi’s boxing career was tragically short-lived remains heartbreaking.
Born February 2, 1973, Ibeabuchi retired in 1999 with an undefeated 20-0 record in pro boxing. Fifteen of these were knockouts and it is understandable to see why he was considered very dangerous.
Despite being a Nigerian former boxer, a lot of Nigerians have never heard of his name before. Obviously not the most popular boxer especially when compared to the likes of Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, or even Anthony Joshua.
Maybe he would have been more popular if he had a longer boxing life span. To put it in context, Ibeabuchi fought for only five years (1994-1999) in the heavyweight division.
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The former boxer was deadly and feared as much as the likes of Tyson and Holyfield. He commanded so much respect among the boxing fans and his colleagues alike.
As a high volume power puncher, it was difficult to stand Ike for long. He had tremendous strength, intimidating size, incredible stamina and a iron chin.
He fought one of the biggest fights in the 90s against the previously undefeated highly ranked David Tua in 1997. Both respected boxers fought for the WBC International Heavyweight title in that clash of the titans.
The bout remains the only one with the record for most punches thrown in a heavyweight contest (1,730). Ibeabuchi eventually won via a unanimous verdict against a man many regarded a world title contender. Prior to that time, Tua had never lost any of his 27 fights.
One more great fight Ibeabuchi had was in 1999, against another highly ranked contender and future world champion Chris Byrd. After the fourth round, the three judges scored the fight even. However, Ibeabuchi went on to ‘destroy’ the American in the fifth round.
Outside-the-ring problems
Some months after his bout with Tua, Ibeabuchi kidnapped his estranged girlfriend’s 15-year-old son. While on the run, the ex-boxer ended up crashing the car with both of them in it.
The boy reportedly suffered ‘numerous injuries’ following the crash and it was confirmed he’d never walk normally again.
Ike Ibeabuchi was deemed to have tried to commit suicide, and was therefore sentenced to 120 days in jail after pleading guilty to false imprisonment. ‘The President’ also had to pay a $500,000 civil settlement fee.
HBO Sports executive Lou DiBella once recounted how he got the nickname ‘The President.’
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“He would get into these mental states where he insisted on people calling him ‘The President’. It was his alter ego, where ‘I am The President,’ not of the United States, but maybe president of the world,” DiBella said.
Promoter, Cedric Kushner also acknowledged an experience when Ibeabuchi brandished a knife during a dinner meeting in New York. The essence of the meeting was to deliberate on a possible three-fight HBO deal.
“We were having a fine meal at a nice restaurant”, 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?'”
Imprisonment, release and rearrest
During his stay at a hotel in Las Vegas in July 1999, Ibeabuchi hired a strip dancer from a local escort service to come to his hotel room.
The 21-year-old dancer later informed the police that the fighter had tried to rape her when she had asked for payment up front.
Ike Ibeabuchi was arrested and a previous sexual assault case against the star was then reopened. Medics initially deemed him not fit to stand trial on the grounds he was bipolar. However, eight months later, two and a half years after his arrest, he was ruled good enough to plea.
The former boxer was ultimately sentenced to two to ten years for battery with intent to commit a crime (from which he was later paroled). He further received three to 20 years sentence for attempted sexual assault, as to be served successively.
Ibeabuchi completed his sentence in the Nevada Department of Corrections and was released by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in 2015.
However, in April 2016, Ibeabuchi was arrested for breaching the conditions of his probation in Gilbert, Arizona. His arrest was based on an old warrant dating back to 2003 that he claimed to be unaware of.
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He was later released on September 23, 2020, from the Arizona State penal system after serving required time. During the second stint at detention, his mother died.
Conspiracy theories?
The news of his rearrest shattered the heart of his mother, who affirmed of a complex conspiracy against her son.
She argued that they had their home broken into, their food and drink spiked, phones tapped and unknown people bribing women to implicate her son. She also maintained that her son was denied legal representation.
Such was the greatness and ferociousness of Ike Ibeabuchi that Mike Tyson once stated that the Nigerian former heavyweight boxer was that one guy he was afraid of and genuinely thought he could lose to him.
His story is yet another one of the “what-could-have-beens” in sporting history.
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