Ike Ibeabuchi Challenges Usyk in 2026 Showdown
Ike Ibeabuchi is back in the heavyweight scene and has publicly challenged Oleksandr Usyk to a fight in Kyiv in 2026.
Speaking in the Ukrainian capital, the 52-year-old Nigerian stated, “You are the Undisputed Champion. You are Ukraine’s champion. Fight me here in Kyiv in 2026.”
Ibeabuchi is scheduled to fight Kabiru Towolawi on December 24, 2025, in Lagos, Nigeria, on Prizefighting.tv PPV.
He said the bout will prove whether his knockout power remains intact. “The world wants to see if the old fire is truly back. When I defeat Kabiru, I will have proven my claim to your titles, Usyk,” he explained.
“I have done my part, I have shaken off the rust of two decades. Now, I call on the only man who matters: You speak of fighting for your people. I offer you a chance to do just that: Defend your titles, defend your country.”
He emphasized that the location of a potential fight with Usyk is irrelevant. “It does not matter if the fight is in Ukraine, or the UK, or Nigeria, or the US. My knockout power is the same. My power has a visa that allows it to travel worldwide.”
Ibeabuchi added a historical comparison to illustrate his confidence: “I will knock you out, Usyk, just like George Foreman knocked out Michael Moorer! I will get the titles that are rightfully mine and become the oldest heavyweight champion in history!”
Known as “The President,” Ibeabuchi highlighted the enduring power of his punches. “They say speed fades, stamina wanes, but the heavy power that is always in the locker. That is what separates a true heavyweight from the rest,” he said.
He clarified that his knockout ability relies on technique rather than athleticism alone. “My power is not reliant on how fast I move or how long I last; it relies on leverage and technique.
“I still have the ability to drop a locomotive. That knockout power, Usyk, is the last thing to leave, and I still carry it.
“When I hit you, you will feel the 21 victories and 16 knockouts of my past, and the hunger of my future.”
Ibeabuchi referenced George Foreman’s 1994 victory over Michael Moorer to demonstrate that age does not preclude knockout power.
“My power travels. I will knock you out like George Foreman knocked out Moorer,” he said.
