UNBEATEN 43 YEAR OLD HEAVYWEIGHT IKE IBEABUCHI HIRES MICHAEL KONCZ AS HIS ADVISER
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Tue, 29 Dec 2015
Ibeabuchi.
Unbeaten 43 year old one-time top heavyweight, former Nigerian Ike ?The President? Ibeabuchi has hired Michael Koncz as his adviser as he plans to make a comeback beginning with a fight on the April 9 card of eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao whose longtime adviser is Koncz.
Ibeabuchi who was an exciting fighter but has been out of the ring since March 20, 1999 when he knocked out Chris Byrd in five rounds, inflicting the first defeat on Byrd.
Fight fans of that era recall Ibeabuchi?s war with heavy hitting David Tua in 1997 which saw the previously undefeated Tua suffer his first setback, losing a twelve round unanimous decision in which Ibeabuchi wom the WBC International heavyweight title.
However, Ibeabuchi?s promising career was cut short for a sexual assault on a woman in a Las Vegas Hotel in July 1999. He was released from a Nevada prison in February last year but was detained by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Arizona until last month.
Yahoo Sports Kevin Iole who broke the story, reports that Ibeabuchi is motivated to get back into contention for a world title shot and hired Koncz, the longtime adviser of eight division world champion Pacquiao to help him in his title quest.
Koncz told Iole that getting Ibeabuchi on the Pacquiao card in Las Vegas in April is possible.
Koncz said Ibeabuchi has ?served his time and wants to improve himself which has received Pacquiao?s approval with Manny
feeling that the heavyweight has served his time and is trying to turn his life around and deserves a second chance.
However, before he gets a license to fight again, Ibeabuchi will have to undergo a series of medical tests to prove he is fit enough to fight again. Just one pound over his weight of 244 pounds when he fought Byrd, Ibeabuchi said ?I need to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world and I understand that I will have to prove myself worthy.?
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Kevin Brown and Yoenis Tellez Shine at Boxlab Promotions’ “Night of Champions XIII” During the 104th Annual WBA Convention
Tue, 16 Dec 2025TRAINING CAMP NOTES: Justin Cardona Shares Insights Ahead of December 19 Showdown Against Avious Griffin
Tue, 16 Dec 2025JAS MATHUR JOINS MANNY PACQUIAO PROMOTIONS AS CEO TO LEAD STRATEGIC VISION, CREATIVITY AND GLOBAL GROWTH INITIATIVES
Tue, 16 Dec 2025Split-T Management Signs Amateur Standout Adrian Salazar
Tue, 16 Dec 2025INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME REMEMBERS CANASTOTA’S MANAGER / TRAINER / PROMOTER TONY GRAZIANO
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Catubig, Prado win Suy Foods Santa Run
By Lito delos Reyes, Mon, 15 Dec 2025Junior, Youth and Elite Divisions Awarded on Final Day of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Mon, 15 Dec 2025Jean Henri Lhuillier Applauds Cebuana Lhuillier Ambassadors for Bronze Finish at SEA Games 2025
Mon, 15 Dec 2025NOEL MIKAELIAN DETHRONES BADOU JACK TO BECOME THE NEW WBC CRUISERWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION
Sun, 14 Dec 2025FM Alekhine Nouri tops Kamatyas chessfest
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 14 Dec 2025Dante Kirkman Dominates DePriest Johnson in Unanimous Victory at Fight Club OC
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Bantam and Intermediate Divisions Crowned on Day Five of 2025 USA Boxing National Championships
Sun, 14 Dec 2025Murat Gassiev Brutally Knocks Out Kubrat Pulev in Dubai
By Dong Secuya, Sat, 13 Dec 2025United States Air Force Paralegals: Law, Order, and Excellence
By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, Sat, 13 Dec 2025OFFICIAL WEIGHTS AND RUNNING ORDER FOR PACHECO VS SADJO IN STOCKTON
Sat, 13 Dec 2025