Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy? Usyk, Paul, Williams, Ibeabuchi and the simulation argument

Oxford Philosopher Nick Bostrum wrote a paper back in 2003 and first proposed the argument that “we are almost certainly living in a computer simulation”.

Now bear with me here - as science was never my strong point at school - but Bostrum was basically saying there were three possibilities:

1. No civilization ever gets to the point where computer simulation is possible and will go extinct before reaching a “posthuman” stage.
2. Civilization eventually gets to the point where it is possible, but they don’t create any simulations for moral, ethical or legal reasons.
3. We are almost certainly living in a computer simulation already.

The Musk simulation hypothesis - popularized by Elon Musk – runs along similar lines and explores the idea that advanced civilizations might already run ancestor simulations. Musk alludes that if there exist trillions and trillions of simulated worlds that are like ours and there is actually only one real world, statistically speaking we are probably living in a simulated world.

Obviously Bostrum et al don’t hold the receipts, so much of this theorising is mere speculation, but if you have been paying attention to some of the news stories in boxing in recent weeks you would certainly be forgiven for thinking we are in our ‘computer simulation’ era already.

Let’s get into it. Oleksandr Usyk confirmed his status as the best heavyweight of his generation with a brutal fifth round stoppage win against Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium on July 19.

It was another sensational performance from Usyk, a generational talent who in his last six fights has beaten Dubois twice, Anthony Joshua twice and Tyson Fury twice. In just 24 professional fights he has somehow managed to become undisputed cruiserweight champion and undisputed heavyweight champion twice. He is deserving of every superlative that comes his way.

After the fight at a packed-out Wembley Stadium the all-powerful Turki Alalshikh tweeted: "I want to see Usyk against [Moses] Itauma. This is the fight."

As exciting as that fight would be – and let’s face it nobody who loves the sport would dare miss it if they got it over the line – it doesn’t make 100% sense for those in the Itauma business because Usyk is only going to get older and Itauma is only going to get better. It just feels a bit premature – at this stage anyway - to suggest ‘Enriko’ is ready for the most special fighter of this era.

Truth be told, the list of worthy contenders for Usyk right now is seriously short. Joseph Parker is the interim WBO champion and surely the most deserving of the current heavyweights out there by virtue of his recent body of work?

The Kiwi trained by Andy Lee is on a six-fight win streak and has previously held a WBO world title. In his last three fights he has beaten Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole. That’s some run.

However, after Usyk’s latest ring masterpiece it was not Joe Parker who climbed into the ring at Wembley, but Jake Paul. ‘The Problem Child’ and Usyk faced off last month following the Ukrainian's Dubois demolition and since that stare down under the iconic Wembley arch Sergey Lapin – active light-heavyweight and Director of Team Usyk - disclosed that negotiations have begun for Usyk to take on Paul in the MMA cage.

Finding a current heavyweight that can formulate a blueprint to beat Usyk is proving impossible – and the man himself has done enough over the years to move in any direction he chooses. But Jake Paul in a cage match is surely a mind-blowing change of gear, no?

Hot on the heels of this, last week news broke that Ike Ibeabuchi - the red hot 1990s heavyweight prospect – will headline a PPV card against Danny Williams later this month.

Williams’ career zenith came in 2004 when he knocked out Mike Tyson. He was last seen in a British ring in 2010 when he was stopped inside two rounds by Derek Chisora at Upton Park. However, ‘The Brixton Bomber’ carried on fighting in some unique and obscure European locations and was last seen in August 2023 losing to the unbeaten – but also unknown - Louison Loizou in Estonia. Williams has a 55-33 (42) record and is arguably the poster boy for once formidable fighters who struggle to let the sport go.

Ibeabuchi – a fighter revered for his explosive power and seemingly limitless engine in his prime - is 20-0 (15) but has not boxed in over 25 years. Indeed ‘The President’ hasn't stepped between the ropes since he blasted out Chris Byrd in five crazy rounds back in March 1999.

After numerous run-ins with law enforcement, he was imprisoned in Las Vegas in July 1999 and has since spent much of the last quarter of a century behind bars. However, it looks like Ibeabuchi v Williams is on. The Nigerian Boxing Board of Control have evidently sanctioned the fight, and the card is listed on Boxrec as happening in Lagos at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on August 23.

If a fight between the pair was made in 1999 it would have been a barnburner. To be talking about it in 2025 is beyond wild. Should they meet in ring centre and throw down, the combatants would have a combined age of 104. The late, great Freddie Mercury once crooned, “Is this the real life? Is this just fantasy?” Truth be told, when it comes to the business of boxing, it is often so hard to tell.

Watch Itauma vs Whyte live on DAZN

You can watch Moses Itauma vs Dillian Whyte live on DAZN on August 16. More information is available here.