The President Wants a King: Ike Ibeabuchi’s RTD Win Sets Up Oleksandr Usyk Call-Out

After twenty-six years away from the ring, former heavyweight boogeyman Ike Ibeabuchi is back—and already aiming at the very top.

Competing at Lagos’ Teslim Balogun Stadium, the unbeaten Nigerian (now 21-0, 16 KOs) forced Idris Afinni (18-9-2) to retire on his stool after three rounds. For most of the bout, Ibeabuchi trudged forward behind clubbing overhands while Afinni probed with jabs and limited offense. A late flurry at the end of the third persuaded Afinni’s corner to wave it off, handing Ibeabuchi a long-awaited winning return.

The call-out was instant. Speaking to local media, Ibeabuchi said he wants undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk next: “I want to fight Usyk, the champion… If he wants me to fight more, I will fight more. But I want him before time elapses.” He’s also floated the idea of a future showdown with Tyson Fury if he can secure a world ranking.

Why this comeback raises eyebrows

Ibeabuchi was one of the division’s most feared risers in the late 1990s, with landmark wins over David Tua and Chris Byrd positioning him on the brink of a title shot. His career halted in 1999 following an arrest in Las Vegas; he later served 16 years in prison for multiple offenses. Deported to Nigeria in 2021, he’s spent the last several years attempting various comebacks before finally securing Saturday’s bout.

Reality check on “Usyk next”

Beating a domestic opponent after a generations-long layoff is a feel-good footnote—but a title shot is another universe. At 52, Ibeabuchi would need:

• Multiple wins over rated heavyweights to enter the sanctioning-body rankings
• Full medical and licensing clearance from major commissions
• A promoter/broadcaster willing to finance a high-risk, low-certainty event

None of that is impossible, but all of it is improbable without sustained activity and convincing performances against far sterner opposition.

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Matchmakers won’t put Usyk anywhere near this until Ibeabuchi proves he can handle a top-25 heavyweight over real rounds. Saturday’s RTD keeps the myth alive—but it doesn’t answer the modern questions: engine, timing, punch resistance, and durability at championship pace. If “The President” wants the big names he’s invoking, the smartest path is a measured climb—regional belt, ranked foe, then a recognizable contender. If he can string those together, the story writes itself. Until then, the call-outs are headline fuel more than booking reality.