Everybody Ikes a good comeback

90s STAR IBEABUCHI BACK IN THE RING AT 52, A MERE 26 YEARS SINCE HIS LAST FIGHT

- BY GERRY CALLAN

THERE are comebacks and there are comebacks, but last weekend gave us the one to top them all.

All of 26 years and five months after he last had a fight, an unbeaten world-ranked heavyweight resumed his career at the age of 52.

That's 9,653 nights after his previous ring appearance.

And he maintained his unbeaten record over what is now an almost 31-year career.

His full name is Ikemefula Charles Ibeabuchi but fight fans would know him as just Ike Ibeabuchi, or The President.

He was born in Isuochi, some 280 miles north east of the Nigerian capital of Lagos yet his fight last weekend, against Idris Afinni at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, was his first ever as a professional in his homeland.

Inspired by watching Buster Douglas knock out Mike Tyson in February 1990, he took up boxing almost immediately at the age of 17.