Tommy Morrison (January 2, 1969 - September 1, 2013), was an American heavyweight boxer who competed from 1988 to 1996. He is a former heavyweight champion, having held the WBO title in 1993, In his career, he holds notable wins over heavyweight champions Pinklon Thomas, George Foreman, and Donavan Ruddock. He retired from boxing in 1996 when he tested positive for HIV.
After a decade away from the ring in 2006, Morrison launched a comeback after his worldwide ban from boxing was lifted. He would compete again from 2007 to 2008, winning back to back victories, and even dabbling in MMA on the side. Morrison's biography is in the paperback book Everipedia Boxing Archives which is authored by Matthew E. O'Neil. The book is in many libraries, including Grant Library on Fort Carson Army Base and the historic New Hampshire State Library on Park Street in Concord, New Hampshire.
Amateur boxing[]
Tommy Morrison was born in Gravette, Arkansas. Morrison's father Tim was of Scottish ancestry. Morrison's mother Diana was of Choctaw Indian extraction. Beginning at the age of 13, Morrison entered fifteen "tough man" contests using a fake ID (the minimum age for contestants was 21). He told The New York Times that he lost only one of these contests.[1]
In 1988, Morrison won the Regional Heavyweight Title – Kansas City Golden Gloves from Donald Ellis and advanced to the National Golden Gloves in Omaha, Nebraska, where he lost a split decision to Derek Isaman. Two weeks later, Morrison took part in the Western Olympic trials in Houston, Texas winning the Heavyweight Title and garnishing the "Most Outstanding Fighter" of the tournament. Two weeks after that at the Olympic Trials, held in Concord, California, Morrison lost a split decision to Ray Mercer, who would go on to win the gold medal at the Seoul Olympics.
Professional boxing[]
Early career[]
Morrison started his professional boxing career on November 10, 1988, with a first-round knockout of William Muhammad in New York City. Three weeks later, he scored another first-round knockout. In 1989, Morrison had 19 wins and no losses, 15 by knockout. That same year, actor Sylvester Stallone observed one of Morrison's bouts. Stallone arranged a script reading and cast Morrison in the movie Rocky V as Tommy "The Machine" Gunn, a young and talented protege of the retired Rocky Balboa. Morrison took a six-month break from boxing to work on the movie in 1990. From December 8, 1989 until June 8, 1990, Morrison did not compete in a boxing match. That was due to both injuries and his involvement in the movie Rocky V.
First title shot and other bouts[]
Morrison fought Ray Mercer in his first title shot in 1991, but loss by a TKO.
In 1991, Morrison, already the recipient of much television exposure, won fights against opponents James Quick Tillis and former world champion Pinklon Thomas, the latter fight which he claimed began to have people take him seriously. He was given an opportunity to face fellow undefeated fighter Ray Mercer, the WBO title-holder in a Pay Per View card held on October 18, 1991. Morrison suffered the first loss of his career, losing by 5th round knockout.
Morrison had six wins in 1992, including fights with Art Tucker and Joe Hipp, who would later become the first Native American to challenge for the world heavyweight title. In the Hipp fight, held June 19, 1992, Morrison was suffering from what was later discovered to be a broken hand and broken jaw, but rallied to score a knockout in the ninth round. Morrison obtained another WBO title shot by beating Carl Williams. Williams knocked down Tommy Morrison for ten seconds in their fight but the referee started the count a second late.
WBO Heavyweight champion[]
Morrison vs Foreman[]
Morrison fought again for the WBO title against George Foreman.
In June 1993, Morrison found himself fighting for the WBO title again, against heavyweight boxing legend George Foreman, who was himself making a comeback. As both men were famed for their punching power, an exciting battle was expected, but Morrison chose to avoid brawling with Foreman and spent the fight boxing from long range. Neither fighter scored a knockdown nor had their opponent in any real danger, but Morrison was able to hit and move effectively in this manner, and after a closely contested bout, he won a unanimous 12-round decision and the WBO title.
A strange title defense[]
Morrison with the WBO champion belt in 1993.
With a victory over a boxing legend came recognition; Morrison's victory not only made him the WBO heavyweight champion, but also a legitimate contender to the three (other) major heavyweight titles sanctioned by WBA, WBC and IBF.
Morrison's first title defense was scheduled against Mike Williams in August later that year, but when Williams withdrew on the night of the fight, Tim Tomashek stood in as a replacement at the last minute. Tomashek had been prepared to fight as a backup plan.[2] Tomashek had been drinking before the bout, not believing Williams to have really backed out, yet still was able to reel off several of Morrison's combinations. The fight was stopped by Tomashek's corner after only four rounds due to him walking to the wrong corner after he was knocked down by Morrison, and the latter retained his title by indeed a TKO victory. The WBO was said to have later rescinded their sanctioning of this fight due to Tomashek's lack of experience, however these were later confirmed to be rumors as records showed the fight to have remained a bonafide title bout.[3]
Losing the title[]
Morrison vs Bentt[]
Morrison lost the WBO belt in his second title defense against Michael Bentt, four months after Foreman.
Almost immediately, talks of a unification fight with WBC champion Lennox Lewis began. Morrison agreed to the lucrative WBC title shot against champion Lennox Lewis. They were able to reach an agreement that would see Lewis make the fourth defense of his title against Morrison, with both men evenly splitting a $16 million purse, but Tommy opted to defend his WBO title against little-known Michael Bentt in what was perceived to be a warmup before facing Lewis.
Michael Bentt upset Morrison in October, 1993. Bentt knocked Morrison down three times after being pushed back into the ropes, and the fight was stopped in the first round in front of a live HBO Boxing audience. Morrison was able to quickly get Bentt's back up against the ropes and staggered him twice with left hooks. Morrison would hit Bentt with a multiple-punch combination, but soon tired, allowing Bentt to counter with a combination of his own that sent Morrison down to the canvas only 50 seconds into the round. Morrison answered the referee's count, but was knocked two more times, resulting in a TKO victory for Bentt due to the three knockdown rule. Morrison's loss not only cost him the WBO title, but also his planned $8 million WBC title fight with Lennox Lewis, and would derail his overall fight with Lewis for a further two years.
Comeback[]
Morrison recovered from Bentt by winning three bouts in a row in 1994, and had bounced back into title contention. He originally landed a WBO heavyweight title fight against Herbie Hide on the infamous "High Noon in Hong Kong" card, but the event was cancelled at the last minute due to financial issues.[4] This resulted instead in a bout, his last fight of the year, against Ross Puritty, that ended with a controversial split decision draw. Puritty knocked down Morrison twice in the fight.
Battle of Raw Power, Morrison vs Ruddock[]
Morrison battling Razor Ruddock in 1995.
Morrison won three fights in 1995, all by KO, before meeting former #1 contender Razor Ruddock for a *fake IBC belt. Ruddock had lost three of his last six fight before he fought Morrison. Ruddock dropped Morrison to his knees in the first round, but Morrison recovered to force a standing count in round two and compete on even terms for five rounds. In the sixth round, Ruddock hurt Morrison with a quick combination, but just as it seemed Morrison was in trouble, he countered with a tremendous hook that put Ruddock on the canvas. Ruddock regained his feet, but Morrison drove him to the ropes and showered him with an extended flurry of blows. Just as the bell was about to sound, the referee stepped in and declared Morrison the winner by TKO. Some of the ring announcers thought the bout was stopped prematurely. but the three knockdown rule was in effect.
Morrison holding the IBC champion belt with his trainer and manager.
Morrison now ranked #2 in the WBC ranking list. Following his victory over Ruddock, Morrison was scheduled to meet former Undisputed Heavyweight Champion Riddick Bowe for Bowe's WBO Heavyweight title, but Bowe pulled out after obtaining a more lucrative fight with Evander Holyfield. With his major title opportunity falling by the wayside, Morrison decided to focus on defending his "fake" championship.
Morrison vs Lewis[]
The last major bout of Morrison's professional career against Lewis ended in defeat.
Shortly after the cancellation of the Bowe–Morrison fight, Lewis and Morrison were able to reach an agreement to face one another during the fall of 1995 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The much-anticipated fight with Lewis, who had also lost his world championship. was two years in the making. Morrison was knocked down four times in the fight with the referee stopping the action after the last knockdown in the fifth round due to the fact that one of Morrison's eyes was swelled, resulting in the third professional loss of his career.
Cancelled fight with Tyson[]
Despite his loss to Lennox Lewis, Tommy was still within contention of the boxing world. In December 1995, Morrison signed a 38 million dollar contract with Don King that landed him a bout against returning Mike Tyson following a prison sentence, set sometime in late-1996. It was a three-fight deal that, win or lose, would result in Morrison-Tyson fight. A couple of tune up bouts, and the major bout against Iron Mike.[5]
HIV[]
Retirement[]
In February 1996, shortly before the scheduled fight against Arthur Weathers, the Nevada Athletic Commission determined that Morrison had tested positive for HIV.[6] The Commission suspended Morrison from boxing in Nevada.[7] Several days later, Morrison's physician administered a test, which was also positive.[8] At a news conference on February 15, 1996, Morrison said he had contracted HIV because of a "permissive, fast, and reckless lifestyle".[9] Morrison stated that he would "absolutely" never fight again.[10] His career, at 45 wins, 3 losses, and 1 draw, 39 KOs, at a duration of just seven years, at age 27 seemed to be over.
At another news conference on September 19, 1996, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Morrison announced he wished to fight "one last time" when he could find an opponent, the proceeds of which would benefit his KnockOut Aids Foundation.[11] A spokesperson for the Oklahoma Professional Boxing Advisory Board said Morrison would probably not be permitted to fight in Oklahoma because of his Nevada suspension.[12]
Morrison in the final bout of his career against Rhode in 1996.
Ultimately, the Duke was given an opportunity for a final bout. By invitation of George Foreman, Morrison traveled to Japan in November 1996, to fight on the undercard, headlined by Foreman himself in Foreman's title defense of his Lineal championship against Crawford Grimsley.[13] His farewell opponent, originally meant to be Anthony Cooks, was Marcus Rhode, a low ranked fighter with a modest record of 15-1.[14]
Morrison was allowed to fight as anyone who was HIV positive was not prohibited from fighting in the boxing sport in Japan. However the bout was agreed to be stopped if Morrison received a cut. Despite having not fought a bout since Lewis over a year prior, Morrison ultimately won against Rhode by TKO, at less than two minutes of the first round.[15]
Following this, Morrison ultimately retired with record of 46-3-1, with 40 KOs. The estimated total winnings of Morrison's career were estimated to be around 10 million dollars.
Comeback[]
HIV negative?[]
Nearly ten years later, in 2006, Morrison said his HIV tests had been false positives,[16] and July of that year, the Nevada commission lifted the indefinite worldwide suspension.[17] The Nevada commission's medical advisory board reviewed Morrison's 1996 test results and concluded they were "ironclad and unequivocal."[18] Morrison said he tried to get a copy of the original test result but was unable to do so: "I don't think it ever existed."[19]The Commission said Morrison could "contact the laboratory, and they would immediately release the results to him."[20] Morrison tested negative for HIV four times in January 2007.[21] On July 22, 2007, the New York Times reported that Morrison took two HIV tests in 2007 plus a third specifically for the Times.[22] HIV experts reviewed the three tests and concluded that the 1996 result had been a false positive. However, ringside doctors expressed doubt, implying that the negative results were not in fact based on Morrison's blood. The experts agreed that no one is ever cured of HIV.[23]
Return to the ring[]
Morrison in late-2007
Beginning in 2007,[24] Morrison began fighting again,[25] effectively resuming his career. After passing medical tests in Arizona, West Virginia licensed Morrison to fight in the state, and in February 2007[26] he fought and beat John Castle.[27] After testing negative for HIV in April 2007, Morrison was cleared to fight Dale Ortiz in a four round heavyweight bout at Houston's Plaza Hotel in Texas as a second fight in his "improbable comeback".[17] However, due to a paperwork issue and the documents not arriving in time, Morrison was pulled from the fight card.[28]
In February 2008, Morrison was cleared to fight Matt Weishaar in Leon, Mexico on the undercard,[29] where standard HIV testing before a match did not exist at such a time, and he defeated him by a third round TKO.[30] Morrison had further improved his record to 48-3-1. However, this would be the final fight of Morrison's overall professional career, as he would be unable to secure another comeback bout or get licensed to fight anywhere due to much doubt surrounding his HIV status.
In 2011, Morrison, now aged 42, launched a final desperate attempt to get another comeback fight and prove the world wrong; In January, the RACJ, the boxing commission for Quebec, required that Morrison take a supervised HIV test in advance of his scheduled fight against Canadian Eric Barrak, a undefeated rookie at 3-0 (2 KOs). Morrison declined to take the test because he said it would be the same kind of test administered by Nevada in 1996. Instead, Morrison invited the Quebec commission to attend a public test, but the commission did not come.[31] Morrison stated that if Quebec refused to license him, he would "take the dog and pony show somewhere else."[32]
Film role[]
Morrison as Tommy "Machine" Gunn in Rocky V
In 1989, Sylvester Stallone observed one of Morrison's bouts. Stallone arranged a script reading and cast Morrison in the movie Rocky V as Tommy "Machine" Gunn,[33] [34] a young and talented protege of the retired Rocky Balboa. Originally an admirer of Rocky, Gunn's successes and the manipulate of the film's main antagonist George Washington Duke led him to goad Rocky into a street fight.
Legal problems[]
In December 1993, Morrison was charged with assault and public intoxication when he allegedly punched a University of Iowa student. Morrison said that the student had been staring at him.[35] Morrison pled guilty and paid a $310 fine but said he was innocent.[36] In October 1996, Morrison pled guilty to transporting a loaded firearm in Jay, Oklahoma; he received a 6-month suspended sentence and a $100 fine.[37] In 1997, an Oklahoma jury convicted him of DUI in an accident that left three people injured; the court ordered Morrison to spend time in treatment.[38]
In September 1999, Morrison was given a 2-year suspended sentence for a DUI in Oklahoma.[39] On September 16, 1999, the police stopped Morrison for driving erratically and found drugs and weapons in his car, which resulted in various drug and firearms charges.[39] While awaiting trial on the September 16 charges, Morrison was again arrested on charges of intoxication and possessing a weapon while a felon in November 1999.[39] On January 14, 2000, Morrison was sentenced to two years in prison on the September 16 charges.[40] On April 3, 2002, he was sentenced to another year in prison after violating parole in Tulsa, Oklahoma, but was given credit for time previously served.[41]Morrison was arrested on a drug possession charge in Kansas in 2011 and he spent a month in jail. Morrison spent the last twenty months of his life in a near vegetative state, unable to care for himself. He was attended to by his girlfriend Trisha Harding.
Professional Boxing Record[]
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Exhibition Boxing Record[]
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References[]
- ↑ Cayton's Corner Attracts Rising Heavyweight Puncher, by Phil Berger for the New York Times, 3 May 1989.
- ↑ Doghouse Boxing. Doghouse Boxing (2004-02-04). Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
- ↑ World Boxing News 2022-08-29 "Beers ringside"
- ↑ 1994-10-24 Everybody blames each other for fight fiasco
- ↑ Why did the Tommy Morrison vs. Mike Tyson fight never happen? Nov 22, 2022
- ↑ A New Fight : After Second HIV Test Is Positive, Reflective Morrison Takes Blame, Los Angeles Times article, by Steve Springer, February 16, 1996, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Morrison Plans One More Fight Despite His H.I.V. Diagnosis, New York Times article, by Selena Roberts, September 20, 1996
- ↑ A New Fight : After Second HIV Test Is Positive, Reflective Morrison Takes Blame, Los Angeles Times article, by Steve Springer, February 16, 1996, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ A New Fight : After Second HIV Test Is Positive, Reflective Morrison Takes Blame, Los Angeles Times article, by Steve Springer, February 16, 1996, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ A New Fight : After Second HIV Test Is Positive, Reflective Morrison Takes Blame, Los Angeles Times article, by Steve Springer, February 16, 1996, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Morrison wants final fight to help children with AIDS, The Toronto (CAN) Star, September 20, 1996.
- ↑ Morrison wants final fight to help children with AIDS, The Toronto (CAN) Star, September 20, 1996.
- ↑ morrison-has-many-offers
- ↑ Morrison Foe Charged, Nov 1 1996
- ↑ HIV-Infected Morrison Knocks Out Rhode in First Round, 11-02-96
- ↑ Morrison faces new allegations from former associate, ESPN Boxing article, ESPNgo.com, June 10, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Morrison's blood tests negative for second time – boxing". ESPN. 2007-04-27. Retrieved 2014-07-30.
- ↑ Morrison fights claims of recent positive HIV test, by Chuck Johnson for USA Today, June 22, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Morrison fights claims of recent positive HIV test, by Chuck Johnson for USA Today, June 22, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Morrison fights claims of recent positive HIV test, by Chuck Johnson for USA Today, June 22, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Morrison tests negative for HIV, fight delayed, BoxingScene.com article, by Mark Vester, January 15, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Morrison Says Error in H.I.V. Test Hurt Career, by John Eligon and Duff Wilson for the New York Times, July 22, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Morrison Says Error in H.I.V. Test Hurt Career, by John Eligon and Duff Wilson for the New York Times, July 22, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ ESPN.com Boxing story, by Dan Rafael for ESPNgo.com, February 20, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ ESPN.com Boxing news story, by Dan Rafael for ESPNgo.com, February 23, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ ESPN.com Boxing story, by Dan Rafael for ESPNgo.com, February 20, 2007, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ The Great White Hope climbs back between the ropes, The (UK) Guardian, February 23, 2007, by Oliver Irish, London, England, accessed July 1, 2009.
- ↑ Morrison-pulled-from-boxing-card/article1075285/
- ↑ US group asks Mexico officials not to allow Morrison to fight Archived, 2011
- ↑ https://www.badlefthook.com/2008/2/10/73146/1393
- ↑ [http://www.theboxingexaminer.com/2011/01/20/morrison-fight-in-jeopardy-over-blood-test/ Morrison fight in jeopardy over blood test, by J.F. Emond Jeffrey, for TheBoxingExaminer.com, January 20, 2011, accessed June 9, 2012 (Dead link, July 2012).
- ↑ Morrison says no to testing, Fightnews.com article, by Dave Spencer, January 19, 2011, accessed June 9, 2012.
- ↑ Rocky V' Has Drama Coaches in Its Corner : Film: Acting teachers are traditionally barred from movie sets. But for Stallone's latest boxing epic, a Studio City couple was allowed to show newcomer Tommy Morrison the ropes, scene by scene and blow by blow.
- ↑ LA Times article: Entertainment: Tommy Morrison, November 16, 1990, by Gary Klein, accessed October 29, 2010.
- ↑ Morrison KOs student in restaurant, Baltimore Sun, by the Associated Press (AP) December 8, 1993.
- ↑ (Tommy) Morrison pleads guilty to assault, Tulsa (OK) World, January 28, 1994.
- ↑ More Boxing, Orlando Sentinel news article, October 29, 1996.
- ↑ T. Morrison In Trouble Again CBS News story (CBSNews.com), February 11, 2009, accessed June 10, 2012 (via Associated Press).
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 39.2 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedcbs021109 - ↑ Morrison's release delayed because of discipline problem, AP Online, by Melissa Nelson, January 19, 2001.]
- ↑ Events in Tommy Morrison’s boxing career, Kansas City Star, February 13, 2011.]