With both Ike Ibeabuchi and Chris Byrd sporting undefeated records, the winner of this clash of opposing styles figured to move up towards the head-of-the-class among young heavyweights. Byrd (26-1, 14 KO), an Olympic Silver medallist in 1992 at 165 pounds, is now the size of a full-fledged heavyweight, but still possesses the style and (unfortunately for him) the punching power of a middleweight. Ibeabuchi (20-0, 15 KO), on the other hand, is a thickly muscled 6’2", 245 pounds and packs a wallop. Not only does he hit extremely hard, but he throws many more punches per rounds than most fighters his size. This rare combination of power and activity was too much for Byrd to handle. Through the first four rounds, Byrd proved his typically elusive self, but provided little in the way of retaliation, perhaps hoping to weather the early storm and outpoint the bigger man in the later rounds. Then, with under a minute to go in the fifth round, Ibeabuchi caught Byrd on the ropes with as good a left hook as you’ll ever see and sent him face-first to the canvas -- squashing any plans for a long tactical battle. Bryd got up, only to go down again when he couldn’t get his legs under him. After rising a second time, Ibeabuchi swarmed Byrd and the referee stopped the fight with one second remaining in the round. Byrd, who could have survived the round, protested the decision, but it was a good stoppage. PunchStats had Ike landing 91 of 289 punches to 84 of 208 for Byrd. With a win over Byrd to go with his June 1997 win over David Tua, Ike Ibeabuchi took a giant leap right to the front of the class of young heavyweights -- yes, even ahead of the more heralded Michael Grant.
