“I will knock him out in the second round” -Morris Okolla fires Ruann Visser
VISSER ON A TOUR IN NAIROBI SAYS MORRIS OKOLLA
▪️”I will knock him out in the second round and then be his tour guide to the National Park”
One of Africa’s top heavyweight professional boxers Morris “Hercules” Okolla of Kenya (12-4-0, 10 KOs) has predicted a second round knockout victory over South Africa’s Ruann Visser (14-3-0, 13 KOs) when they meet on Saturday, September 21, in a non-title heavyweight fight at Charter Hall, Nairobi.
Okolla, also nicknamed Maketho Maloso, is returning to the ring since his last fight in May, 2023 against DR Congo’s Yannick Katuta whom the southpaw Okolla KO’d in 20 seconds of the first round at Charter Hall.
“I will knock out my South African opponent in the second round, then be his tour guide to take him to the National Park as our special tourist to enjoy our hospitality,” said Okolla (pictured) who made his pro debut on November 6, 2011.
It’s been difficult for the hard-hitting Okolla to get an opponent in Kenya.
“They’re all scared of me because of my strong punches, one of them makes a lot of noise on social media but can’t face me in the ring, he’s a big coward,” said Okolla.
Okolla, a product of Dallas Boxing Club, comes from a family with boxing in their blood. His father Alfayo Shisia boxed for Railways and it’s him who encouraged Okolla and elder brother Dan Shisia to take up boxing in 1990. Okolla made his international debut in 2002 after being guided well by renowned Dallas Boxing Club coach Charles Mukula, one of the unsung heroes of Kenya’s grassroots boxing.
The big breakthrough for Okolla came in the 2005 Zone 5 Championships in Nairobi.
That’s when a new generation of rising stars signalled their arrival to big-time boxing.
They included Okolla himself, his brother Dan Shisia, Nick Okoth and Nick Abaka all of whom won gold medals.
Among others in the new Generation 2000 included Benson Gicharu, Rayton Okwiri, Suleiman Bilali, Bernard Ngumba, David Munyasia, Thomas Kasina, Peter Mungai, Black Moses Mathenge, Charles Menya and Joshua Ndere who was Okolla’s main challenger.
They fought five times with the late Ndere winning thrice and Okolla twice.
Nick Okoth served the longest term in the Generation 2000 until last year when he called time from international boxing, and since Nick stepped out of the ropes, it’s difficult to pinpoint the face of Kenya’s amateur boxing.
Okolla’s main ambition is to become an African champion, and has challenged any African heavyweight who thinks he’s man enough to face him.
What’s Okolla’s parting shot to his opponent?
“Let’s all stand up and welcome our South African tourist, Ruanna Visser,”
NENEZ MEDIA SERVICES