The 6ft 2ins, 235-pound Nigerian, once considered the division?s boogeyman of the 1990s, ended his long absence with a retirement victory over local fighter Idris Afinni at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos.

Ibeabuchi, now 52, forced Afinni (18-9-2, 15 Kos) to stay on his stool after three completed rounds. The victory moved his record to 21-0 with 16 Kos.

?The President? now aims to land a position in the WBC Top 40 heavyweight rankings and wants to be fast-tracked to a title shot. A once-feared contender, Ibeabuchi defeated David Tua and Chris Byrd in his prime. He was on the verge of a fight with Mike Tyson or Lennox Lewis when his career was derailed in 1999. A prison sentence ended his career for more than two decades before the United States sent him back to his homeland.

After months of trying, Ibeabuchi finally signed a network and promotional deal with Prizefighting.tv to stage the comeback on pay-per-view for $29.99.

For Ibeabuchi, it marked his first fight on home soil and his first official appearance since stopping Byrd 26 years earlier. Ibeabuchi wasted no time securing the 16th stoppage of his career and set his sights on Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, and Moses Itauma.

Speaking to WBN before the fight, Ibeabuchi also targeted George Foreman?s record as the oldest heavyweight champion.

?It feels good to finally get back in the ring. Twenty-six years is a long time,? Ibeabuchi exclusively told World Boxing News. ?I am in shape and ready to break George Foreman?s record.

?I want to become the oldest heavyweight champion in the world. I am in better fighting shape than I was when I beat David Tua (in 1997) and knocked out Chris Byrd (in 1999).

?For 26 years, I have been training both physically and mentally. I went to college and received three degrees, and I am a paralegal. When the mind and body are in tune, you become extremely dangerous. I am the most dangerous man in boxing. On August 23, you will see.?

The comeback adds Ibeabuchi?s name to a growing list of legendary heavyweights who are making late returns. However, Ibeabuchi?s comeback is not due to desire; it?s firmly due to the need to prove himself after losing most of his world-class career to jail time.

Mainly due to this fact, sanctioning bodies should look favorably on Ibeabuchi for a ranking, especially when YouTubers get positioned when they don?t fight anyone dangerous. It?s the least Ibeabuchi deserves for his extended wait. (The Guardian)

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