Son of late Rocky star and former world champion looks exactly like his dad as he joins Conor McGregor backed promotion
Kenzie Morrison looks a spitting image of his late father as he continues to make waves in the fighting world. Morrison, who is the son of former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, has just signed with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BFKC). Kenzie is following in the footsteps of his Rocky star father Tommy and boasts a 22-1-2 pro record and has just signed with BKFC@kenziemorrisonofficial Boasting a professional boxing record of 22-1-2 in the ring, Morrison was fed up with the state of his sport so decided to strip off the gloves and join the fastest-growing bare knuckle sport. BKFC is co-owned by UFC star Conor McGregor, who has been actively promoting the brutal sport since getting involved in April 2024 while he remains out of fighting action himself. Morrison’s dad, Tommy, had a promising career, but is known to many for starring opposite Sylvester Stallone as Tommy Gunn in Rocky V. The 34-year-old cited his late father for influencing him as he looks to reach new heights in the world of combat sports. “The drive and determination that it takes someone to defy the odds that people are constantly telling them they can’t do and to be so accomplished in that sport, that inspired me alone,” Morrison told MMA Junkie. “He taught me little things growing up and tried to poke at me and my brother and tell us we’re going to be the next world champ. “We were all just like: ‘Holy cow, no way.’” Tommy – known as ‘The Duke’ – died in 2013 at the age of 44, having locked horns with the likes of George Foreman and Donovan Ruddock during his career. In fact, ex-WBC heavyweight champ Pinklon Thomas, who also fought legends such as Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, described Tommy’s power as the hardest he’s ever experienced. “I would say when I got hit by Morrison it was like being hit by a baseball bat,” Thomas said. Morrison looks just like his late father who was a boxing world champion Although Tommy never watched his son compete as a professional, Morrison now contests every bout in his dad’s honour to make him proud. He said that he is taking his bare knuckle career ‘more seriously’ than anything ever before, while admitting his love for watching some of BKFC’s biggest stars. “I think we’re going to get in there and get our feet wet,” Morrison added. “I’m taking this more seriously than I’ve taken anything in a long time, just because of the opportunity that was presented to me, to be able to be part of such a great thing and possibly even end my career with a bareknuckle heavyweight world title. “I think that would make my dad proud. I think that would open up doors for me to ultimately take care of my family and maybe even stay a part of the sport.” Morrison, in particular, loved watching ex-UFC star Ben Rothwell’s brutal knockout win over Mick Terrill at KnuckleMania 5 in January. Morrison says he offers something a ‘little bit different’ to current BKFC stars, such as Rothwell and TerrillBKFC The BKFC event smashed records as more than 17,000 fans packed into the Wells Fargo Center, reportedly marking the city’s biggest-ever combat sports event in modern history. “I’ve watched a lot of the heavyweight guys,” Morrison concluded. “They’re all really big. They’re tough and they’re all great fighters in their own rights. “I just think I bring a little bit different look to the table being that I’m a little quicker than most of those big guys and I can crack with both hands. “Outside of street fights, I’ve never really gotten in there and focused on fighting with my bare knuckles. “It’s going to be a crazy deal. I’ve been working out for the last three or four weeks with just taped hands and stuff. It’s just a whole different ball game.” Morrison’s father, Tommy, was a distant relative of Wild West screen legend John Wayne, which is where the former world champion got his ‘Duke’ nickname from. And just like Wayne, Morrison immediately captured the imagination of those around him. From the age of 14, Morrison Snr was being entered by his mother into ‘tough man’ contests and as a professional in the ring, won 42 of his 48 wins via knockout. Describing the impact of Morrison’s punches, Thomas added: “I got hit to the ribs and my leg came up, I got hit with one punch and my eye split. “Tommy hit me harder than anyone else I was ever hit by.”
Kenzie Morrison looks a spitting image of his late father as he continues to make waves in the fighting world.
Morrison, who is the son of former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, has just signed with the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BFKC).
Boasting a professional boxing record of 22-1-2 in the ring, Morrison was fed up with the state of his sport so decided to strip off the gloves and join the fastest-growing bare knuckle sport.
BKFC is co-owned by UFC star Conor McGregor, who has been actively promoting the brutal sport since getting involved in April 2024 while he remains out of fighting action himself.
Morrison’s dad, Tommy, had a promising career, but is known to many for starring opposite Sylvester Stallone as Tommy Gunn in Rocky V.
The 34-year-old cited his late father for influencing him as he looks to reach new heights in the world of combat sports.
“The drive and determination that it takes someone to defy the odds that people are constantly telling them they can’t do and to be so accomplished in that sport, that inspired me alone,” Morrison told MMA Junkie.
“He taught me little things growing up and tried to poke at me and my brother and tell us we’re going to be the next world champ.
“We were all just like: ‘Holy cow, no way.’”
Tommy – known as ‘The Duke’ – died in 2013 at the age of 44, having locked horns with the likes of George Foreman and Donovan Ruddock during his career.
In fact, ex-WBC heavyweight champ Pinklon Thomas, who also fought legends such as Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, described Tommy’s power as the hardest he’s ever experienced.
“I would say when I got hit by Morrison it was like being hit by a baseball bat,” Thomas said.
Although Tommy never watched his son compete as a professional, Morrison now contests every bout in his dad’s honour to make him proud.
He said that he is taking his bare knuckle career ‘more seriously’ than anything ever before, while admitting his love for watching some of BKFC’s biggest stars.
“I think we’re going to get in there and get our feet wet,” Morrison added.
“I’m taking this more seriously than I’ve taken anything in a long time, just because of the opportunity that was presented to me, to be able to be part of such a great thing and possibly even end my career with a bareknuckle heavyweight world title.
“I think that would make my dad proud. I think that would open up doors for me to ultimately take care of my family and maybe even stay a part of the sport.”
Morrison, in particular, loved watching ex-UFC star Ben Rothwell’s brutal knockout win over Mick Terrill at KnuckleMania 5 in January.
The BKFC event smashed records as more than 17,000 fans packed into the Wells Fargo Center, reportedly marking the city’s biggest-ever combat sports event in modern history.
“I’ve watched a lot of the heavyweight guys,” Morrison concluded.
“They’re all really big. They’re tough and they’re all great fighters in their own rights.
“I just think I bring a little bit different look to the table being that I’m a little quicker than most of those big guys and I can crack with both hands.
“Outside of street fights, I’ve never really gotten in there and focused on fighting with my bare knuckles.
“It’s going to be a crazy deal. I’ve been working out for the last three or four weeks with just taped hands and stuff. It’s just a whole different ball game.”
Morrison’s father, Tommy, was a distant relative of Wild West screen legend John Wayne, which is where the former world champion got his ‘Duke’ nickname from.
And just like Wayne, Morrison immediately captured the imagination of those around him.
From the age of 14, Morrison Snr was being entered by his mother into ‘tough man’ contests and as a professional in the ring, won 42 of his 48 wins via knockout.
Describing the impact of Morrison’s punches, Thomas added: “I got hit to the ribs and my leg came up, I got hit with one punch and my eye split.
“Tommy hit me harder than anyone else I was ever hit by.”
