88 Mike Tyson vs Ike Ibeabuchi

[jon09]

Prior to fighting Tua, Ike really fought nobody with a winning record outside of say Anthony Wade. He had only fought over 8 rounds twice. Tua was his 17th fight. Tua on the other hand had fought 27 times. Tua at the time was being touted as the next Tyson and had recently blasted out Ruiz, Wilson, Izon and Maskaev. Tua had been fighting 10 and 12 round fights for 4 or 5 years. At the time, it was being said that Ike was a flash in the pan and a coddled contender. As it turns out he was not the sum of his past opponents. Dark Lord Al makes a great point in that Ike would have had no fear and it may have been Tyson who got intimidated. That is a huge factor imo. Tyson may have fought about 15 times in a year but let’s be honest here, he was spoon fed more than Ike or Tua. He never even fought any kind of a perceived threat until 1987 and that was Thomas. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer here.

He was really brought in from being buried on Kushner cards and far off from being known or ranked. I don't know if he had fear really but I don't think a guy that scattered and insecure outside the ring could mask it once under what a Tyson would hit him with. Even more so after the Tua win when he developed almost a God complex and snapped numerous times with arrests and jail stint, he was already refusing 6 figure showcases on Hbo to build up a Grant fight and a walking melt down just prior to Byrd.

Yeah I think the Tua war is what sent him over the edge more than less.

[Spicoli]

Prior to fighting Tua, Ike really fought nobody with a winning record outside of say Anthony Wade. He had only fought over 8 rounds twice. Tua was his 17th fight. Tua on the other hand had fought 27 times. Tua at the time was being touted as the next Tyson and had recently blasted out Ruiz, Wilson, Izon and Maskaev. Tua had been fighting 10 and 12 round fights for 4 or 5 years. At the time, it was being said that Ike was a flash in the pan and a coddled contender. As it turns out he was not the sum of his past opponents. Dark Lord Al makes a great point in that Ike would have had no fear and it may have been Tyson who got intimidated. That is a huge factor imo. Tyson may have fought about 15 times in a year but let’s be honest here, he was spoon fed more than Ike or Tua. He never even fought any kind of a perceived threat until 1987 and that was Thomas. I don’t think there is a right or wrong answer here.

He was really brought in from being buried on Kushner cards and far off from being known or ranked. I don't know if he had fear really but I don't think a guy that scattered and insecure outside the ring could mask it once under what a Tyson would hit him with. Even more so after the Tua win when he developed almost a God complex and snapped numerous times with arrests and jail stint, he was already refusing 6 figure showcases on Hbo to build up a Grant fight and a walking melt down just prior to Byrd.

Yeah I think the Tua war is what sent him over the edge more than less.

Yeh, the action as well as the massive glare of new found exposure. Cokes must have felt like a part time baby sitter trying to keep him in line. From what I've read he was just always wound tightly. I remember them talking about how he couldn't adjust, culturally etc. also. Literally went from total obscurity to world known in one night. He really screwed himself.