88 Mike Tyson vs Ike Ibeabuchi

[IamInuit]

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.

He complained at the hospital right after the Tua fight that he had and odd ringing and feeling. Nobody really did anything. Why good ole Cedric would have thrown him in there with Tua to begin with at that stage is anyone's guess. The Ike that fought Tua would have been even up against Tyson and one is forced to be that specific because that fight was probably his prime. Make a great trivia question. "Best fighter with the shortest prime?"

[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.

[Andre]

Think you are right, Tua fight shook some bolts loose ,then the wheel fell off.

With Tyson you'd have to surmise it would also be a stand and deliver fight, nothing else.

[ross]

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.

Are you for real? No threats until Thomas?

Trevor Berbick and Bone Crusher Smith were both dangerous and both were defending world champions!

I think id go with Ike, but really it would depend on what had happened to each guy the days prior to fighting on if they'd be there mentally for it.

By 88 this guy was the only one to go 10 rounds, and all he had going for him was a big set of balls and the toughest beard you can ever have. Well he got stopped right in the tenth but thats the most Tyson had done.




Its a hard call, would Ike have been giving back what he was getting is the big question,Id say yeah he would? If so Id go with him. Cause for Mike to last 10 when being hit back is different than lasting 10 giving all the punishment and Mike wasnt used to taking any for long.

Then again Mike could bust his ribs and he could fold in 3.

Mike had already gone 10 against Mitch Green and Tillis

All this shit of "Mike struggled" what you really mean is Mike didn't knock them out and thats the worst you can say. Mike beat all his opponents up and rarely lost a round.

He never got gift decisions or got dropped coming up like a lot of other "great" fighters because he was just too good.

[brocktonblockbust]

dont know bout no 88 tyson but aint nobody beatin 86-87 tyson no how no where in ANY era.

[FinitoElDinamita]

Majority of you guys picked Tyson to win..

I should have billed it 91 Tyson VS Ibeabuchi.. That's more fair

[Master]

Majority of you guys picked Tyson to win..

I should have billed it 91 Tyson VS Ibeabuchi.. That's more fair

Think Tyson 91 was still good enough to win but after prison in 95 I think he would have got beat.

[Andre]

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.

Are you for real? No threats until Thomas?

Trevor Berbick and Bone Crusher Smith were both dangerous and both were defending world champions!

I think id go with Ike, but really it would depend on what had happened to each guy the days prior to fighting on if they'd be there mentally for it.

By 88 this guy was the only one to go 10 rounds, and all he had going for him was a big set of balls and the toughest beard you can ever have. Well he got stopped right in the tenth but thats the most Tyson had done.




Its a hard call, would Ike have been giving back what he was getting is the big question,Id say yeah he would? If so Id go with him. Cause for Mike to last 10 when being hit back is different than lasting 10 giving all the punishment and Mike wasnt used to taking any for long.

Then again Mike could bust his ribs and he could fold in 3.

Mike had already gone 10 against Mitch Green and Tillis

All this shit of "Mike struggled" what you really mean is Mike didn't knock them out and thats the worst you can say. Mike beat all his opponents up and rarely lost a round.

He never got gift decisions or got dropped coming up like a lot of other "great" fighters because he was just too good.

Ha, you are right that'll teach me not look stuff up before posting wont it

[Andre]

I cant remember the other two, did they get anything serious in on him or was it all one way traffic for Tyson?

[El Kabong]

Ibeabuchi was really raw...he was developing a good solid jab but it wasn't anything special. I think more polished boxers would have beaten him badly. Look at the Byrd fight before the KO

[IamInuit]

Are you for real? No threats until Thomas?

Trevor Berbick and Bone Crusher Smith were both dangerous and both were defending world champions!

Lmao roll my eyes, exclamation point.

Yes. Are you going to sit there and try to say that Bonecrusher Smith was a threat with a straight face and then use off his freakin rocker Trevor Berbick as the back-up? And you are asking me if I'm for real. They both pissed their pants during the ring walk and Smith wanted to be his blanket. Nice try and thanks for coming out.

[ross]

Are you for real? No threats until Thomas?

Trevor Berbick and Bone Crusher Smith were both dangerous and both were defending world champions!

Lmao roll my eyes, exclamation point.

Yes. Are you going to sit there and try to say that Bonecrusher Smith was a threat with a straight face and then use off his freakin rocker Trevor Berbick as the back-up? And you are asking me if I'm for real. They both pissed their pants during the ring walk and Smith wanted to be his blanket. Nice try and thanks for coming out.

Both were good fighters and coming off good wins. You cant just dismiss them as bad fighters because of how they performed against Mike

I cant remember the other two, did they get anything serious in on him or was it all one way traffic for Tyson?

The Green fight was good. A good learning fight for Mike. He had fast hands and good combinations and was tough.

Mike Tyson vs Mitch Green (Highlights) - YouTube

[Andre]

Shit hot, you know i never saw that one, going to have to watch the whole thing now, that guy really did want it, that ups Mike more in my estimation around 88 this dude wasnt a push over from the highlights,looks like a great fight.

[TysonBomb]

88 Tyson was the H2H GOAT

Ike is a monster as well but I don't see him beating the Tyson from that year

[Hulk]

So people picking Ike are basing it off one good win over Tua? And that qualifies him to beat an all time great and the most devastating, electric heavyweight of all time?