By Ron Jackson
South African heavyweight champion Ruann Visser (13-1, 12 KOs) meets two-fight novice Luke Sutherland in a ten round non-title fight in what looks like a mismatch at the Time Square in Pretoria on Sunday. Visser was suspended after winning the South African heavyweight title on February 22, 2018 with a seventh round knockout victory over the grossly overweight Osborne Machimana. The suspension for alleged use of a banned substance was recently dismissed after further tests.
Visser completely dominated the fight against Machimana who weighed in at a heavy 143.45kgs (316lbs).
Rather surprisingly according to Boxrec, the 40-year-old Machimana (23-11-2, 17 KOs) is scheduled to meet Tshibuabua Kalonga (8-0, 4 KOs) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the African Boxing Union heavyweight title on Saturday at the Canal Olympia in Dakar.
I trust that Machimana has received clearance from Boxing SA to fight outside the country.
The 207cm Visser, 27, from Meyerton, Gauteng made his pro debut in Houston, Texas on July 24, 2014 and won on a stoppage at 1 minute 15 seconds into the first round.
He had four more fights in America winning three inside the distance and on March 23, 2015 he fought to a no decision against Gary Cobia after the fight was stopped due to an accidental injury, before returning to South Africa.
He then won eight of his next nine fights before winning the South African title from Machimana.
His only loss came against George Msimanga in July 2014, who beat him on points over six rounds.
Sutherland (2-0, 1 KO) from Randpark Ridge, Johannesburg who is trained by former professional heavyweight fighter Steven Castle, who fought from 2008 to 2011 and compiled a record of 5-3-2, 2 KOs.
Sutherland’s two fights have both been against Warren Le Roux who has lost his last four fights and has a record of 2-4-1, 2 KOs according to Boxrec.
In Sutherland’s first fight with Le Roux on July 2, 2017 the contest was stopped in the first round after LeRoux sustained a cut eye, and in the return match on May 31, 2018, Sutherland won on a majority points decision, with scores of 40-36, 39-37 and 38-38.