By Edward Chaykovsky

In one of the more unexpected stories to close out the year, one-time top heavyweight contender Ike Ibeabuchi is planning to make a comeback at 43-years-old.

The heavyweight has been out of the ring since March 20th of 1999, when he knocked out Chris Byrd in five rounds. It was the first defeat for Byrd. Many remember Ibeacbuchi's HBO televised twelve round war with huge puncher David Tua in 1997, which saw Tua suffer his first career defeat by decision.

Ibeabuchi's career was cut short due to a prison stint in connection for a sexual assault on a woman at a Las Vegas hotel in July of 1999. He was released by Nevada prison in February 2014, but then was detained by the U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement in Arizona until last month.

The heavyweight is now motivated to get back in the running for a world title shot. He informed Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports that he hired Michael Koncz to be his adviser. Koncz is best known for being the longtime adviser of eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao. Ibeabuchi wants to return on the undercard to Manny Pacauiao's upcoming event on April 9th in Las Vegas - and that scenario is possible, Koncz told Iole.

"[Ibeabuchi] has served his time and wants to improve himself and Manny feels that since he's served his term and is trying to turn his life around, he deserves a second chance,"

In order to regain his boxing license and fight again, the boxer would have to undergo a series of medical exams to ensure he was healthy enough to compete.

The boxer told Yahoo that he's very healthy and weighs 245 pounds. He weighed a shade over 244 for the fight with Byrd.

"I need to fight for the heavyweight championship of the world and I understand that I will have to prove myself worthy," Ibeacbuchi said. "But I am willing to cooperate and do whatever so that I may obtain my boxing [license] and appear on this card in Las Vegas."