Ibeabuchi vs Tyson in 1999, vs Lennox in 2000 & vs Holyfield in 2001

Memorial Stadium Piru

WE BYKE BABY
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We all know Ike's story, one of the most promising heavyweight prospects of the 90s, absolutely jacked, could brawl AND box when he needed to. Defeated Marlon Wilson via UD in 1997 with his intelligent jab controlling the pace, the same year he defeated Tua in outright war in Sacramento and ate Tua's left hooks like goat peppeh soup, clashed with Chris Byrd in 1999, the fight was even with both fighters showing intelligent boxing skills until Ike deposed of him in the 5th round with a beautifully timed counter left hook that sent Chris crashing to the canvas, that he ultimately couldn't recover from and Ike eventually won via stoppage. He then turned down $700k to fight prospect Jeremy Williams & $1 million to fight undefeated, hailed to be the next great HW Michael Grant. Was there something bigger on the horizon that he knew and we didn't?:lupe:

Let's say the three fights happen above, he fights Tyson instead of Orlin Norris in October 99, he fights LL instead of Francois Botha in July 2000, and fights Holyfield in 2001 instead of that horrible Ruiz trilogy. What do you see happening?

For me, I see

Washed cokehead Tyson does something stupid in the 6th round to get himself disqualified after getting thoroughly outboxed by Ike the 1st 5 rounds and getting frustrated

Lennox wins via UD, keeping Ike on the outside with his jab all 12 rounds and never letting Ike get in rhythm to even get close to hurting him

Ike beats Holyfield via 10th round stoppage, the fight turns into a real brawl and Holy doesn't quit, the ref stops it after Holy acquires too much facial damage
 
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