Nigeria-born heavyweight boxer Kingsley “The Black Lion” Ibeh says top contenders in the division are avoiding him because they fear he’s too dangerous to fight.
Currently on a 10-fight winning streak, the 31-year-old Ibeh believes his size, power, and style make him too risky for fighters chasing easier paths to the top.
“I think they’re scared of me,” Ibeh told World Boxing News. “I got a lot more calls when I was underrated and expected to lose. Now, nobody wants to take a chance to fight me. I want that challenge! I want my seat at the table, if not at the head of the table, because becoming world champion has been my goal since I started boxing.”
At 6’4” and 285 pounds, Ibeh is not only a big man in the ring — he’s also a southpaw with unusual footwork and explosiveness, developed from his background as a professional and college football player. He previously played defensive tackle at Washington University in Kansas and for the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL.
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“Being so big is a double-edged sword,” Ibeh said. “I weighed 240 in high school. I have God-given strength; I don’t even take protein. Football is tough and it has helped me in boxing. Linemen get smacked every play in football, especially the impact by blockers, and getting hit excites me in boxing. I move well in the ring and that’s because of the footwork I learned playing football.”
Ibeh (15-2-1, 13 KOs), who fights out of Phoenix, Arizona, has been undefeated for the past four years under the Toro Promotions banner but has yet to land a big-name opponent. He says he’s ready for any of the top contenders and named several he’s willing to face.
“I need an opportunity to make a statement. It would be exciting for me to fight ‘Big Baby’ Miller. I’ve been trying to get a rematch with Guido Vianello because I believe I won that fight. I’d smash Richard Torrez in five rounds. Usyk is No. 1, of course, because he’s the champion. We got a call to fight Fabio Wardley but it didn’t happen. I’m a big fan of Joseph Parker and I’d like to get him in the ring.”
His media and brand manager, Maca “Magic,” says it’s only a matter of time before Ibeh gets his chance.
“The sentiment we’ve gotten is that they’re scared to fight this big southpaw unless we make it more enticing,” Maca said. “Kingsley will climb the ratings, and he won’t be avoided too much longer. Everything has changed in boxing since COVID, especially on social media. Today, boxing is more about entertainment. We are finding the right pieces and building his brand. We’re going to make him a star.”
Back home in Nigeria, Ibeh’s popularity is rising with every fight, especially when bouts are streamed to local fans.
“It’s like a party,” Ibeh said of his growing support base in Nigeria.
He also shares a bloodline with one of the most feared Nigerian boxers of all time — Ike Ibeabuchi — a cousin he didn’t know until he watched his first fight live. That moment sparked his love for boxing.
Four years since his last defeat, Kingsley Ibeh says he’s smarter, stronger, and ready for the spotlight.
“I’m always ready if the phone rings,” he said. “Just give me my seat at the table.”
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