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| Tommy Morrison obituary | Tommy Morrison obituary |
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| When Tommy Morrison outpointed George Foreman to win the WBO version of the world heavyweight boxing title in 1993, it seemed he had it all. He was then aged 24, and three years earlier had starred in the film Rocky V alongside Sylvester Stallone. With millions in the bank and an internationally recognised face, he had beaten a huge figure in Foreman and was intent on cashing in on his fame. | When Tommy Morrison outpointed George Foreman to win the WBO version of the world heavyweight boxing title in 1993, it seemed he had it all. He was then aged 24, and three years earlier had starred in the film Rocky V alongside Sylvester Stallone. With millions in the bank and an internationally recognised face, he had beaten a huge figure in Foreman and was intent on cashing in on his fame. |
| But his life changed forever in 1996 when he tested HIV positive, and his boxing licence was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic commission. In a nationally broadcast press conference, Morrison said: "I lived a permissive, fast and wreckless lifestyle. I hope I can serve as a warning that living this lifestyle can really only lead to one thing, and that's misery. I thought I was bulletproof and I'm not." A decade later Morrison, who has died aged 44, claimed that the test had been false and made a sad comeback in two obscure and meaningless fights. | But his life changed forever in 1996 when he tested HIV positive, and his boxing licence was suspended by the Nevada State Athletic commission. In a nationally broadcast press conference, Morrison said: "I lived a permissive, fast and wreckless lifestyle. I hope I can serve as a warning that living this lifestyle can really only lead to one thing, and that's misery. I thought I was bulletproof and I'm not." A decade later Morrison, who has died aged 44, claimed that the test had been false and made a sad comeback in two obscure and meaningless fights. |
| Born in Gravette, Arkansas, and raised in Oklahoma, Morrison was the son of an Irish-American father, Tim, and Native American mother, Diana. He claimed to be a distant relative of the film star John Wayne, and adopted the boxing nickname of "The Duke". | Born in Gravette, Arkansas, and raised in Oklahoma, Morrison was the son of an Irish-American father, Tim, and Native American mother, Diana. He claimed to be a distant relative of the film star John Wayne, and adopted the boxing nickname of "The Duke". |
| With two uncles and an older brother who had boxed, Morrison was strongly encouraged by his father to take up a sport in which he quickly showed talent. A fake ID enabled him to box under the required age of 21, and he fought successfully in unlicensed Oklahoma "toughman" contests before coming close to selection for the 1988 US Olympic team, losing a box-off to the eventual heavyweight gold medallist, Ray Mercer. | With two uncles and an older brother who had boxed, Morrison was strongly encouraged by his father to take up a sport in which he quickly showed talent. A fake ID enabled him to box under the required age of 21, and he fought successfully in unlicensed Oklahoma "toughman" contests before coming close to selection for the 1988 US Olympic team, losing a box-off to the eventual heavyweight gold medallist, Ray Mercer. |
| Embarking on a professional career in 1988, Morrison was spotted soon afterwards by Stallone, who cast him as Tommy Gunn, a protege of the retired boxer Rocky Balboa in Rocky V (1990). After a break for filming, Morrison returned to boxing and obliterated a succession of no-hopers such as James Tillis and the former WBC champion Pinklon Thomas, more often than not with a trademark powerful left hook, before facing Mercer for the WBO title in 1991 and being stopped after only five rounds. Two years later came the Foreman fight. George later recalled: "He was a good puncher and he could hit. I thought he would have a great career. Stardom can be tough. One day, no one pays you any attention. The next, you are this good-looking popular guy that everyone wants a piece of, and your whole life explodes." | |
| Shockingly, and probably as a result of some seriously hard partying, Morrison lost the title only four months later, in October 1993, when he was knocked out inside a round by a little known fighter, Michael Bentt. Nevertheless, by 1995, Morrison was being discussed as a possible future opponent for Mike Tyson and was first matched in a title eliminator in Atlantic City against Britain's Lennox Lewis. Morrison was given a horrible beating as Lewis produced one of his finest performances, stopping the American in six rounds, although Lewis would subsequently say that Morrison was one of the hardest punchers he had faced. | Shockingly, and probably as a result of some seriously hard partying, Morrison lost the title only four months later, in October 1993, when he was knocked out inside a round by a little known fighter, Michael Bentt. Nevertheless, by 1995, Morrison was being discussed as a possible future opponent for Mike Tyson and was first matched in a title eliminator in Atlantic City against Britain's Lennox Lewis. Morrison was given a horrible beating as Lewis produced one of his finest performances, stopping the American in six rounds, although Lewis would subsequently say that Morrison was one of the hardest punchers he had faced. |
| Morrison tested HIV positive before a planned contest that would have steered him towards the long anticipated Tyson showdown. Without the discipline of boxing in his life, he was soon in trouble. After a number of drink, drug and firearms-related offences, in 2000 he was imprisoned for two years. | Morrison tested HIV positive before a planned contest that would have steered him towards the long anticipated Tyson showdown. Without the discipline of boxing in his life, he was soon in trouble. After a number of drink, drug and firearms-related offences, in 2000 he was imprisoned for two years. |
| Although the Nevada State Athletic Commission insisted their 1996 blood tests were accurate, Morrison challenged the results of the finding and was able to get himself two low-profile wins, in 2007 and 2008, leaving him with a career record of 48 wins (with 42 knockouts), three defeats and one draw. | Although the Nevada State Athletic Commission insisted their 1996 blood tests were accurate, Morrison challenged the results of the finding and was able to get himself two low-profile wins, in 2007 and 2008, leaving him with a career record of 48 wins (with 42 knockouts), three defeats and one draw. |
| Morrison is survived by his wife Trisha and three sons, Trey, Kenzie and Tristin. | Morrison is survived by his wife Trisha and three sons, Trey, Kenzie and Tristin. |
| • Tommy David Morrison, boxer, born 2 January 1969; died 1 September 2013 | • Tommy David Morrison, boxer, born 2 January 1969; died 1 September 2013 |