Why this fight exists at all
Kabiru Towolawi, 26-16(22), is not here to revive memories. He is here because this is how late-career returns are kept alive. Towolawi is 45, has been stopped ten times, and his recent form says more about durability than ambition. The last recognisable name on his ledger was Olenrewaju Durodola in August 2024, a messy night that ended with Towolawi disqualified for excessive holding after being dropped. That matters. It tells you how this fight is likely to look once pressure arrives.
For Ibeabuchi, the task is simple and dangerous. Control pace early. Stay balanced on exits. Do not chase praise. The moment his feet square up or his timing drifts, age shows. Heavyweights do not age gradually. They fall off in chunks.
How the division treats this kind of return
Calling out Oleksandr Usyk after one comeback win was never realistic. It was belief talking, not matchmaking. The heavyweight division does not bend for sentiment. Sanctioning bodies will not touch a 53-year-old with a 20-year absence. Networks will not insure him against top-contenders. What remains is local promotion, limited opponents, and a slow narrowing of options.
That is not cruelty. It is structure. Even the fighters we remember fondly, the versions of Ibeabuchi who pushed David Tua and outworked Chris Byrd, lived on timing, pressure, and engine. Those traits are the first to erode.
What can still go wrong tonight
Towolawi will hold. He will wait for Ibeabuchi to overcommit. That is where rhythm breaks and legs stiffen. If Ibeabuchi keeps his structure and lets the other man carry weight, the punches will land and the fight ends early. If he tries to prove anything, if he loads up or stands square, the night gets longer than it should.
Fans will watch. Curiosity always shows up for stories like this. But the ring does not care about stories. It only exposes limits.
If Ibeabuchi wins, he will fight on. And on. That is the pattern. If it goes wrong, there is no soft landing. Heavyweights do not get warning losses at this age.
What time is the fight?
Date: December 24
Start time: Nigeria 7:00pm WAT / USA ET 1:00pm / UK 6:00pm
Streaming platform: Prizefighting.tv
Venue: Lagos, Nigeria
