Tommy Morrison

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Tommy Morrison bigraphy, stories - American heavyweight boxer

Tommy Morrison : biography

January 2, 1969 –

Tommy Morrison (born January 2, 1969) is an American heavyweight boxer and a former World Boxing Organization champion. He lost only three out of a total of 52 professional fights. Morrison’s nickname, "The Duke," is based on disputed claims that he is a grandnephew of Hollywood star John Wayne. Morrison was a co-star with Sylvester Stallone in the 1990 boxing movie Rocky V.

Morrison’s professional boxing career ended for many years when he tested positive for HIV in 1996. Beginning in 2006, Morrison attempted a comeback, stating his HIV diagnosis was negative.

Morrison has had multiple convictions for driving under the influence, assault, and drugs and weapons charges.

HIV

In February 1996, shortly before a scheduled fight against Arthur Weathers, the Nevada Athletic Commission determined that Morrison had tested positive for HIV. The Commission suspended Morrison from boxing in Nevada. Several days later, Morrison’s physician administered a test, which was also positive. At a news conference on February 15, 1996, Morrison said he had contracted HIV because of a "permissive, fast, and reckless lifestyle". Morrison stated that he would "absolutely" never fight again.

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. 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.

To treat his infection, Morrison said he took antiretroviral medication, which reduced his viral load to almost undetectable levels.

In 2006, Morrison said his HIV tests had been false positives. The Nevada commission’s medical advisory board reviewed Morrison’s 1996 test results and concluded they were "ironclad and unequivocal." 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." The Commission said Morrison could "contact the laboratory, and they would immediately release the results to him."

Beginning in 2007, Morrison began fighting again. After passing medical tests in Arizona, West Virginia licensed Morrison to fight in the state, and in February 2007 he fought and beat John Castle. The Kansas City Star described his early 2009 fight in Wyoming as a "staged" event and a "fake fight."

Morrison tested negative for HIV four times in January 2007. On July 22, 2007, the New York Times reported that Morrison took two HIV tests in 2007 plus a third specifically for the Times. 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.

In January 2011, the RACJ, the boxing commission for Quebec, required that Morrison take a supervised HIV test in advance of a scheduled 2011 fight. 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. Morrison stated that if Quebec refused to license him, he would "take the dog and pony show somewhere else."

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. Morrison pled guilty and paid a $310 fine but said he was innocent. 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. 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.