“And now, 10 rounds of boxing between undefeated Heavyweights. Somebody’s 0 must go. Ladies and gentlemen…Let’s get ready to rumble!”
Michael Buffer, standing at mid-ring at the Emerald Queen Casino in Tacoma, Washington, was poised to introduce two unbeaten Heavyweights.
On March 20, Ike “The President” Ibeabuchi and Chris Byrd would meet in a Heavyweight division where contenders were jockeying for a chance at the title. In a Heavyweight unification bout just one week earlier, the world watched Evander Holyfield and Lennox Lewis fight to a “draw” in one of the worst decisions in boxing history.
The year was 1999.
At 26, Ibeabuchi (19-0, 14 KOs) had put himself on the map two years before in June of 1997. In a pitched battle against the always tough David Tua, The President proved he belonged in earning a unanimous decision.
At 6’2”, Ibeabuchi owned a half inch advantage in height over Byrd. The real physical advantages were his raw power and 36-pound weight advantage.
Now 28 and fighting at Heavyweight, Byrd (26-0, 14 KOs) was once a 165 pound Silver medalist in the 1992 Olympics. A slick boxer with lightning fast hands, Byrd could throw volleys of punches and frustrate opponents with his hand and foot speed.
HBO’s Boxing After Dark televised the bout live with Jim Lampley, Larry Merchant and Roy Jones Jr. seated ringside to call the action. Just before the opening bell, Merchant touched on the key to victory. “Power is a big thing in any sport, but you have to be able to plug it in. Can Ibeabuchi plug his power in the elusive Byrd?”
Referee Ron Rall called for the bell and Round 1 was underway.
Wearing black trunks trimmed with large stripes of white down each side and across the waistline, Byrd began Round 1 at mid ring. In his southpaw stance, he looked to glide from right to left and pop his right jab at Ibeabuchi.
Also wearing black trunks with a more subtle white trim, Ibeabuchi looked to roll forward like a tank in Patton’s Fifth Army. He looked to get inside where he could bomb away and plug in that power.
Each man, wearing traditional red boxing gloves with duct tape wrapped around his wrists, looked to impose their gameplan from the opening bell. Byrd looked to box, move and strafe Ibeabuchi with his long right jab. Ibeabuchi wanted to hammer at Byrd’s jaw and midsection.
After an even first round, the second stanza began with Ibeabuchi turning it up a notch and aggressively charging forward looking to rough up Byrd. He quickly backed him into a corner and banged away. Byrd was able to spin off the ropes, flashed a smile and resumed firing his jab. Ibeabuchi revealed good defensive skills in moving his head well enough to slip much of the incoming leather.
Byrd showed off his own defensive prowess moving in and out and avoiding many of the power punches hurled in his direction. It was another close, competitive round.
Rounds 3 and 4 saw Ibeabuchi taking more and more command of the fight. The pace quickened and the action intensified as Byrd soon found himself with his back against the ropes.
Gamely, he fought back and refused to concede anything to Ibeabuchi.
The problem for Byrd was that the ring had turned into a phone booth. He was now standing in it with a man who owned both a size and power advantage over him. Battle damage was now showing on Byrd’s face as a cut opened over his left eye. With blood trickling down the side of his face, he desperately tried to get back on his toes and back to the center of the ring.
Ibeabuchi continued storming in behind his left jab. He thundered to the body and fired right crosses and left hooks while showing no signs of slowing down.
The bell echoed to begin Round 5 with Byrd now in full retreat. The ebb-and-flow continued with Byrd sliding backward as Ibeabuchi calmly pursued while chopping away.
With just under a minute remaining in the round, Ibeabuchi had again backed Byrd against the ropes. As the two traded at close quarters, Ibeabuchi launched a powerful, sweeping left hook, almost in the form of an uppercut. The punch landed flush, and hard, sending Byrd’s head snapping back while simultaneously rolling on his shoulders.
The blast flung sweat into the laps of ringside spectators as Lampley moaned, “Oh what a left hand! Byrd in serious trouble! Ibeabuchi with a monster left hook!”
Byrd crashed in a heap to the canvas.
Ever the warrior, Byrd climbed to his feet, hopping up and down trying to clear his head while taking the standing eight count from Rall. The action resumed with just under 30 seconds remaining in the round.
Ibeabuchi immediately attacked Byrd again sending him crumbling to the canvas. Jones saw Byrd was in trouble, “He’s hurt very bad. He doesn’t even know where he is right now! Hurt bad.”
Byrd climbed to his feet for a second time. Still hurt from the initial knockdown and the brutal left that put him there, Byrd had just 15 seconds to kill before the bell would end the round. It wasn’t to be as The President again jumped all over him, pounding away with dynamite lefts and rights.
Rall leaped in to halt the action. The bout was stopped at 2:59 of Round 5. It was a spectacular TKO win for Ibeabuchi. Byrd, perhaps punched silly, tried to argue the knockdowns and stoppage to no avail.
This was Ibeabuchi’s last fight. Legal troubles landed the rising star behind bars for 15 years. Having been released in November of 2015, rumors are now swirling that Ibeabuchi, 42, is looking to make a comeback.
Byrd would fight another 10 years, earning wins over Vitali Klitschko and Evander Holyfield, winning the vacant IBF Heavyweight crown in the process. His career ended with 41 wins and 5 losses.
