Middle-aged boxer sets sights on Usik, aiming to surpass Foreman's record in the ring
Ike Ibeabuchi, a Nigerian heavyweight boxer with an undefeated record of 20-0 and 15 knockouts, is set to make a historic comeback after a 26-year hiatus from the ring. The former heavyweight contender, who last fought in March 1999 against Chris Byrd, will return to action on August 23, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria, against Idris Afinni.
Ibeabuchi's career came to a halt in 1999, following legal troubles that saw him imprisoned for assault and attempted sexual assault. He was released from prison in 2020 and has since focused on rebuilding his life, earning three degrees and working as a paralegal.
The boxer, who was once regarded as one of the most feared heavyweights of his era, is now aiming to reclaim his place at the top of the division. With impressive wins over top contenders David Tua and Chris Byrd, Ibeabuchi believes that had his career not been interrupted, he might have become a dominant world champion.
Ibeabuchi's goal is to return to elite heavyweight status and compete for world heavyweight titles. If successful, this comeback would set a record for the longest interval between professional fights in boxing history, surpassing the previous record of 25 years held by Sal ‘Rocky’ Cenicola.
The boxer is also eyeing the record set by George Foreman, who became the heavyweight champion at the age of 46. Ibeabuchi believes that when the mind and body are in harmony, he becomes extremely dangerous and is confident that he can still compete at the highest level.
Ibeabuchi has his sights set on Ukrainian boxer Alexander Usyk, who currently holds the belts that Ibeabuchi believes should still be his. The returning boxer has expressed his intention to take the world heavyweight titles from Usyk and surpass the record set by Foreman.
However, Ibeabuchi's first test in his quest to achieve these goals will come on August 23 against Idris Afinni. The boxer has been training both physically and mentally over the past 26 years and believes that he is in better shape now than when he beat David Tua in 1997 and knocked out Chris Byrd in 1999.
Ibeabuchi's comeback fight against Afinni will be a highly anticipated event, with boxing fans eager to see if the Nigerian heavyweight can recapture the magic that made him one of the most feared boxers of his era. If successful, Ibeabuchi could well be on his way to achieving his goal of becoming a world heavyweight champion and setting a new record in the sport.
Ike Ibeabuchi, despite being away from sports for 26 years, is planning to make a historic comeback to heavyweight boxing, with his first fight set against Idris Afinni on August 23, 2025. In his pursuit to reclaim his place in the division, Ibeabuchi aims to surpass both the record for the longest interval between professional fights in boxing history and the record for becoming a heavyweight champion at the age of 46, held by George Foreman.
