TUPATALK: Band of warriors

One of the great privileges of my career focused on covering the entrance of the Tommy Morrison boys into the heavyweight boxing ranks.

Both are big, powerful guys — of distinct builds – and each spent a good deal of time training in Bartlesville.

For many young fight fans, Tommy Morrison is probably an enigma, someone whose name they might have heard in passing, or who they know about only from snippets of information.

He is one of the greatest ring fighting forces to come out of Oklahoma. He is affiliated heavily with the Jay area, even though born in Arkansas.

Destined at an early age as a prize fighter, Morrison also earned a college football scholarship, but followed a path as a prolific amateur fighter and entrance into the pros.

Fate — perhaps beneficently, perhaps cruelly — brought Morrison incredible nationwide exposure when the won the part in the movie “Rocky V” as the good-guy-turned-bad-guy fighter that tried to rock the Italian Stallion’s world.

Morrison was in his 21st year when “Rocky V” hit the screens. Following the movie, he resumed his pro boxing career.

He quickly claimed success, but also had to fight back through adversity on his rugged journey to the challenger status.

In 1993, Morrison out-decisioned George Foreman to win the new WBO heavyweight championship belt.

But, Morrison made only one successful title defense and lost his championship less than five months after he had won it.

Morrison continued to battle valiantly through the next few years to try to get another crack at the title.

Meanwhile, he fostered a friendship with Randy and Brenda Rouse of Bartlesville.

The Rouses have told me during the years how Morrison spent some time in Bartlesville, even staying at their house, during this time. The relationship began when Tommy undertook the task of helping to train Brenda as a ring fighter.

She went on to become a multi-belt world champion.

But, Morrison’s found adversity elsewhere — including being denied a boxing license in Nevada after the athletic commission there said Morrison had tested positively for HIV. Morrison publicly credited his condition to his lifestyle.

Morrison eventually returned to the ring as some states issued him licenses. But, by this time, he was in his late 20s.

During his last few years he had multiple contacts with the law and the courts. He passed away on Sept. 1, 2013, at 44, with the cause of death listed as cardiac arrest.

Morrison’s two sons, half-brothers Kenzie Witt and Trey Lippe, emerged in the fighting realm and would eventually modify or change their names.

Lippe had been a Vinita High student-athlete superstar and already had a strong Bartlesville connection — he had lined up with Bruin graduate Markell Carter on the defensive side of the ball for the University of Central Arkansas football team.

Witt also excelled in athletes as a youngster.

Rouse invited Kenzie to come and train in Bartlesville, as part of a promise he had made to Tommy.

Kenzie lived for more than year in the Bartlesville area while preparing for and beginning his pro fighting career. I believe he fought once as an amateur in Dewey.

Trey traveled to Bartlesville to train with his brother and Rouse’s son Jarrett. The trio became part of the Four State Franchise, with their home venue at the Buffalo Run in Miami (Okla.).

For me, it was a wonderful experience, watching these athletes, with such great family legacies in terms in fighting success, prepare for promising futures.

All three of them made unbeaten splashes well into their pro boxing careers. I don’t know whether their destinies will ever reach the highest prize.

That’s been a decade ago now. Jarrett switched back to kickboxing and cage fighting and now is officially retired while he focuses on his business and his family.

As far as I can tell, Trey and Kenzie have suffered at least one defeat each in their pro pursuits. Whether they’re still in the struggle to add to their legacy, and perhaps stalk a title, I don’t know. I wish them well in whatever positive things await in their future.

But, I do know these three guys approached the sport with unflinching dedication and gritty determination. They were truly a band of warriors. There was something special back then walking in the Rouse gym, almost like a house of champions in training.

I’m grateful for the opportunity.

This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: TupaTalk column