61-year-old heavyweght who beat Lennox Lewis set for showdown with former prisoner who has fought only twice in 26 years

Former world champion Oliver McCall and ex-contender Ike Ibeabuchi are reportedly set to clash in New York, more than three decades after both men were regarded as serious threats at the top of the heavyweight division. 

McCall, now 61, enjoyed the defining moment of his career in 1994 when he produced one of boxing’s biggest upsets, stopping Lennox Lewis inside two rounds in London to capture the WBC heavyweight title. 

His reign proved short-lived. McCall lost the championship to Frank Bruno the following year, but he remained a fixture in the heavyweight scene for years afterwards. 

Remarkably, McCall has continued to compete well into his 60s. After stepping away from boxing for five years, he returned to the ring in 2024 and has fought three times since. His most recent outing ended in a draw with Carlos Reyes last year. 

Ibeabuchi, meanwhile, was viewed as one of the heavyweight division’s most dangerous emerging talents during the late 1990s. 

The Nigerian built an unbeaten record and enhanced his reputation with victories over David Tua and Chris Byrd, performances that had many boxing fans wondering just how far he could go. However, his career was derailed by his incarceration, robbing the sport of a fighter who appeared to be approaching his prime. 

Now, an extraordinary comeback could lead him to a meeting with McCall.  

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According to a report from BoxingScene , McCall vs. Ibeabuchi is scheduled for November 26 in New York, but the event will only go ahead if enough fans commit to buying tickets in advance. The reported target is 12,500 purchases at $9.95. 

Ibeabuchi, 53, returned to action last year in his native Nigeria, marking his first professional fight in 26 years. However, his comeback has not gone entirely to plan. In his second fight back, he suffered a narrow points defeat to Kabiru Towolawi. 

Both were once huge names

The proposed showdown therefore bears little resemblance to the kind of heavyweight clash that might have been imagined when both men were at the height of their powers. 

McCall and Ibeabuchi were significant figures in the division more than 25 years ago, but this meeting would instead be a remarkable collision between two veterans attempting to extend their careers long after their best years have passed. 

Nevertheless, the stakes are still personal. For two men who once occupied very different places in the heavyweight landscape, the opportunity to share a ring could provide one more chance to put their names in the spotlight. 

And should either man emerge victorious, there is every possibility that the result could lead to another meeting with a familiar name from heavyweight boxing’s past.

Matchroom Boxing

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