Former Nigerian heavyweight sensation Ike Ibeabuchi has made a dramatic return to professional boxing at the age of 52, securing a third-round stoppage victory over Idris Afinni in a comeback fight that has reignited conversations about his once-promising career.
Ibeabuchi, who earned the nickname “The President” during his explosive rise in the late 1990s, shocked fans by stepping back into the ring after more than two decades away from competitive boxing. Despite questions about his fitness and age, he displayed flashes of the power and aggression that once made him one of the most feared heavyweights of his era.
The fight began cautiously, with Afinni attempting to use his speed and reach to keep Ibeabuchi at bay. However, as the rounds progressed, Ibeabuchi pressed forward, landing heavy combinations. By the third round, his relentless pressure forced the referee to step in, awarding him a technical knockout victory.
Boxing analysts described the comeback as both inspiring and controversial. Some hailed Ibeabuchi’s resilience and determination to return to the sport at an advanced age, while others raised concerns about the risks involved in competing at such a stage of life, particularly given his long absence from the ring.
Once touted as a future world champion, Ibeabuchi’s career was derailed in the early 2000s following legal troubles and a lengthy incarceration in the United States. His record remains impressive, with most of his victories coming by knockout, and his comeback now adds a new chapter to one of boxing’s most intriguing stories.
Whether this return marks the beginning of a short exhibition run or a more serious campaign remains unclear. But for his supporters, simply seeing Ibeabuchi back in action—and victorious—was enough to rekindle memories of what could have been.
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