Final evening at Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, the boxing world witnessed the historic comeback of Ike Ibeabuchi, aka “The President.” After being away for over 26 years, the previous prime heavyweight contender is lastly feeling free, simply as he wished.
For the unversed, Ibeabuchi as soon as mentioned in 2015, after being launched from jail, that he wouldn’t be at liberty till he stepped again into the ring. Lastly, he happy himself final evening by defeating Idris Afinni in a dramatic third-round stoppage, preserving his undefeated report at 21-0.
Whereas everybody thought the 52-year-old selected the trail of retirement now, he shocked everybody by calling out Oleksandr Usyk for a surreal struggle.
Ike Ibeabuchi Clings to Not possible Title Combat Calls for In opposition to Oleksandr Usyk
Ibeabuchi’s demand ignores boxing actuality. He hasn’t fought since 1999 and spent 16 years in jail earlier than being deported to Nigeria. Actually talking, the boxing panorama has utterly modified since his final struggle.
The love round Ike Ibeabuchi final evening, after his spectacular efficiency at age 52 and 26 years of inactivity, is past phrases, a real testomony to how deeply followers nonetheless admire and respect him. 😍 ❤️ #fightgistmedia pic.twitter.com/xMLV2gIsCr
— Combat Gist media (@Fightgistmedia) August 24, 2025
Furthermore, his current opponent, Afinni, was hardly a championship-level competitors, although the win maintained Ibeabuchi’s undefeated report on paper. In the end, it was extra about shaking off ring rust than proving any actual title credentials.
Maybe Ibeabuchi feels the identical approach, as he revived the harmful aura he carried within the Nineties by calling out Usyk, who already has legit title defenses forward of him.
Ibeabuchi declared, “I need to struggle Usyk for the championship. I’m 21-0 with 16 knockouts. Why can’t he struggle me? I used to be prime ten earlier than him. If Usyk needs me to struggle extra, I’ll struggle extra. I like to struggle. However I need him earlier than time elapses.”
Nevertheless, boxing consultants view his title calls for as unrealistic given the circumstances. However Ibeabuchi has by no means been identified for his knowledge. Usyk, the undisputed heavyweight champion, hasn’t formally booked his subsequent struggle but. So, the boxing world will certainly look ahead to if something unreal occurs within the close to future.
Ike Ibeabuchi’s Comeback Pales In comparison with Boxing’s Best Late-Profession Returns
Ibeabuchi was a risk within the Nineties, however his return just isn’t as superb as different compelling tales. So, his late-career comeback doesn’t fall into the class of profitable returns.
For instance, George Foreman’s legendary comeback got here after profitable the heavyweight title at 45 in 1994. However he truly returned in 1987 and remained lively for ten consecutive years till 1997. In that interval, he participated in 24 fights towards more and more higher competitors.
Mike Tyson’s jail comeback in 1995 additionally holds a special significance. He returned very early at 29 after 4 years away. So he bought legit contenders like Peter McNeeley and Buster Mathis Jr. which set the stage for future heavyweight battles. Even Muhammad Ali’s comeback after his three-year exile was nearly much like Tyson’s.
Compared, Ibeabuchi returned at age 52. However Afinni felt like unknown opposition for him, who supplies no comparable basis for title calls for. That’s why the Usyk callout appears extra like wishful pondering than a practical boxing state of affairs.
