The heavyweight division has been shaken once again — and this time, it’s from one of its most infamous names. Legendary and still undefeated Ike “The President” Ibeabuchi’s return (21-0, 16 KOs) is confirmed to World Boxing News, and he is on a “direct, serious, and aggressive path” toward challenging undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Ibeabuchi, who ended a 26-year hiatus with a comeback win in August, will fight three times before the end of the year, with two of those bouts scheduled on major U.S. holidays — Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Eve.
All three contests will air live and exclusively on Prizefighting.tv, the combat streaming platform that has secured global rights to what they describe as a “legendary career revival in real time.”
The comeback of “The President”
Speaking after his triumphant return, Ibeabuchi told WBN his return was never about nostalgia.
“My comeback was not a curiosity; it was a promise,” said Ibeabuchi. “A promise to myself and to the world that I am here to finish what I started. Usyk is the man at the top — a great champion — but his reign is temporary. I’m not coming back for tune-ups. I’m coming back for the undisputed title. Every fight from now until I get to Usyk is a message to the division that ‘The President’ is serious.”
Ibeabuchi’s three-fight campaign begins on November 8 in Lagos, Nigeria, when he faces local powerhouse Kabiru “KB Godson” Towolawi, a heavy-handed contender boasting 22 knockouts from 26 wins.
The second and third events — on Thanksgiving Day (November 27) and Christmas Eve (December 24) — will feature opponents yet to be announced. However, the Nigerian-born fighter insists each bout is designed to move him closer to a shot at the undisputed crown by mid-2026.
Prizefighting.tv: “A boxing spectacle in real time”
A spokesperson for Prizefighting.tv also told World Boxing News:
“Ike Ibeabuchi’s return is one of the most compelling stories in heavyweight history. The fact that he’s committing to a three-fight PPV run in just a few months shows his undeniable focus on Usyk and the belts. Prizefighting.tv is proud to be the exclusive home for ‘The President’s’ charge to the top. Fans who purchase these events will be witnessing a boxing spectacle and a legendary career revival in real time.”
Briggs is open to Ibeabuchi
But not everyone in the heavyweight ranks is convinced.
As WBN reported earlier this month, former world champion Shannon Briggs accused Ibeabuchi of pricing himself out of a potential fight. Briggs claimed “The President” demanded $500,000, calling on Amir Khan to help stage the bout in Nigeria after Khan’s successful Lagos event on October 1.
“Ike Ibeabuchi — that old turtle — wants $500,000 for me to put him in the blender,” Briggs said. “If Amir Khan makes it happen in Nigeria, you’ll see what I do to him. It won’t be pretty.”
Briggs, who remains one of boxing’s most outspoken veterans, wants Khan’s AK Promotions to bridge the financial gap and deliver what could become an extraordinary all-veteran showdown on African soil.
Future targets: Usyk, Joshua, Bakole
Beyond Usyk, WBN believes Ibeabuchi is open to facing Anthony Joshua or Martin Bakole in Africa as stepping stones toward world title contention — fights that would test whether his famed power and conditioning can still hold up at 52.
For now, his attention is fixed on his November return and the global PPV audience that’s expected to tune in from across the boxing world.
A career reborn
Ike Ibeabuchi’s story remains one of boxing’s most remarkable: a once-feared contender who disappeared for over two decades and has now reemerged determined to reclaim what he believes was taken from him.
If his 2025 plan holds, “The President” may become the oldest fighter ever to challenge for the undisputed heavyweight crown — and the sport will be watching.
About the Author
Phil Jay is a veteran boxing journalist with over 15 years of experience covering the global fight scene. As Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) since 2010, Jay has interviewed dozens of world champions and reported ringside on boxing’s biggest nights.
[View all articles by Phil Jay] and learn more about his work in combat sports journalism.