Kenya’s heavyweight champion Morris Okolla has exuded confidence ahead of Saturday's non-title fight against Cedric Oliver of Mauritius at Charter Hall in Nairobi.
The Kenya Professional Boxing Commission (KPBC) has ratified the eight-bout fight card.
At Friday's weigh-in at a Nairobi hotel, Okolla promised to stop the visiting opponent inside three rounds.
“I’m ready to beat my opponent inside three rounds,” Okolla said.
However, Oliver is undeterred by Okolla’s bold claim.
“My opponent talks a lot. Let us do this in the ring. Everyone can talk, I'm not here to play, I've come to do my job, which is clean. I aim to increase my IQ for the future," he said.
Crowned the national heavyweight champion in 2015 after defeating James Nyariki, Okolla boasts an impressive pro record of 12 wins and four losses.
Oliver's last match in Kenya was a unanimous decision win against Nyariki at the KICC last year.
The undercard includes all-Kenyan affairs pitting John Juma against Kingsley Mwancha (super lightweight), Dennis Okoth versus Alfayo Siyo (middleweight), Martin Achebi and Fredrick Okau (lightweight), Joshua Wasike against James Nyariki (cruiserweight), Collins Nyakwaka up against Wellington Busili (cruiserweight), Samuel Njomo versus Erick Diffren (lightweight) while homeboy Kennedy Opiyo will square it off against Steve Kelunkunga of the Democratic Republic of Congo (superwelter)
KPBC chairman Reuben Ndolo called on boxing enthusiasts to turn out in large numbers to support their favourite players.
“This promises to be a huge night of boxing and we ask Kenyans to come in large numbers,” Ndolo said.
He also hinted at more events later this year in Mombasa, Lamu, Kisumu, and another major one in Nairobi, featuring boxers from Mauritius, Tanzania and DRC.
