Ibeabuchi Marks Comeback With TKO Win, Calls Out Usyk

Nigerian boxing legend Ike ‘The President’ Ibeabuchi returned to the ring in emphatic fashion on Saturday night, securing a third-round technical knockout over Idris Afinni at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Sport360NG reports.

The 52-year-old, fighting for the first time in 26 years, extended his professional record to 21 wins with 16 knockouts after Afinni’s corner pulled him out at the end of the third round.

“I was landing solid shots to his body and knew he would slow down,” Ibeabuchi said after the fight. “I expected him to come out for the fourth round, but the body punches took their toll. A wise man wouldn’t continue.”

With his comeback complete, Ibeabuchi immediately set his sights on a marquee challenge, calling out unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.

“I’m 21-0 with 16 knockouts, why shouldn’t Usyk face me? If I need to fight more, I will, but I want him before time runs out,” he declared.

Afinni, who dropped to 18-9-2 (15 KOs), praised his opponent’s enduring quality. “There’s no bigger fighter than Ike. He’s still the best in the world,” he said.

The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) defended the decision to sanction the veteran’s return. General Secretary Remi Aboderin explained that Ibeabuchi had passed all medical requirements and was in excellent condition despite his age.

“Age is only a number. He showed he was fit, and both men weighed in at heavyweight, so there was no unfair advantage,” Aboderin said. “If the global boxing community could sanction Mike Tyson at 58 against Jake Paul at 27, then there’s no reason to deny Ike, who remains in remarkable shape, the chance to fight again.”

NBBofC President Dr Rafiu Ladipo also hailed the spectacle, calling it “a celebration of boxing’s enduring spirit and the determination of athletes who refuse to let age define their legacy.”

Once regarded as one of the most dangerous heavyweights of the 1990s, Ibeabuchi’s career was derailed by legal troubles after his 1999 victory over Chris Byrd. Following a lengthy prison sentence and subsequent probation violations, he only gained full release in 2019.

His long-awaited comeback has now reignited debates about late-career boxing comebacks, and whether a showdown with Usyk could become more than just talk.