By Shawn M. Murphy
Normally in my “Where Are They Now” column, I interview boxers who are retired and have been away from the game for awhile. Because of the relative inactivity over the past eleven years of Tommy Morrison, I’ve decided to do a column on a fighter who is currently active. Tommy “The Duke” Morrison is a former WBO and IBC Heavyweight Champion. Morrison began his pro career in 1988. He gained international popularity when Sylvester Stallone cast him as Tommy Gunn in Rocky V. Morrison lost his first bid for a title in 1991 against Ray Mercer. He rebounded and in 1993 beat George Foreman for the WBO title and in 1995 beat Razor Ruddock for the IBC title. His career was derailed by a positive test for HIV in 1996; a test Morrison insists was a false positive. For the next eleven years Morrison was rarely heard of until 1996, when he announced his comeback. He was licensed in February 2007, after a negative HIV test and KO’d John Castle in two rounds. Most recently in February, Morrison beat Matt Weishaar in Leon, Mexico.
(SM) Tommy lets go back to the beginning. How did you first get started in boxing, at what age?
Tommy Morrison: After arriving in Arkansas in October 1976, my family was invited to attend some stock car races that my Uncle Freddie was participating in. On the trip over it started to rain, and it continued through the night. To make a long story short, the races got cancelled and Freddie remembered that some amateur matches were taking place at the Armory. That night I walked through the door of the building into a completely different world and never looked back.
(SM) You rolled through your first 28 opponents in the early years of your career, most by KO. What was life like in and out of the ring during this period?
Tommy Morrison: Socially I was in the “Larva” stage, so I didn’t venture out much. But several months later things started to turn around in a large way!
(SM) In 1990 Sylvester Stallone cast you in Rocky V. How did that all come about and did it affect your boxing career in anyway?
Tommy Morrison: Actually, Sly’s brother Frank is the one that discovered me. Calls were made, an audition was done and that was basically it, it was done. There was a lot more to it but you can read about it in my book.
(SM) In 1991 you ran into Ray Mercer, your first title shot, and lost by TKO. With all the highs in your life up to that point, how did you cope with your first loss?
Tommy Morrison: I’ve has 53 pro fights, only losing three. The fights I’ve learned the most were always the fights I lost. I was young at the time and already knew that I needed more experience. Remember, I came form the “Tough Man” circuit. The Mercer’s, the Lewis’s, the Bowe’s, they all came from international experience, not T-MO!
(SM) Take me back to 1993 and George Foreman. Was that the proudest moment of your career, winning the WBO title?
Tommy Morrison: Well, beating a legend is a very good feeling, but internally I was processing the realization that I could compete with anyone.
(SM) A few months later you were upset by Michael Bentt, what happened?
Tommy Morrison: I just walked into a good punch…shit happens!
(SM) In 1996 before a scheduled fight you were told you tested positive for HIV. What did you try and do to disprove that test?
Tommy Morrison: At that time there wasn’t anything I could do, this was a relatively new subject to the boxing world.
(SM) After this you fell on some hard times. What were those eleven years away from boxing like?
Tommy Morrison: It was a very dark, soul searching time for me. It took a long while but I’m beginning to piece it all back together again. It’s a good feeling.
(SM) In December 2006 you resurfaced, planning a comeback after testing negative for HIV by the Arizona State Boxing Commission. At this point did you think you were back in boxing for good?
Tommy Morrison: The first thing you learn in boxing is that there are NO guarantees.
(SM) Along came a figure named Randy Lang, a former agent, who insists you were still HIV positive and had Hepatitis C as well. Who is Lang and why would he have it out for you?
Tommy Morrison: He was planning his own future around me and my comeback. He was a shark and a con man. After he was made and the gig was up, he went crazy in the media. Bottom line, he’s just one of many mentally deranged and unstable individuals in this world. What’d ya gonna do?
(SM) Lang insists that a previous blood test submitted to labs in Phoenix and California were not your own samples. Any comments?
Tommy Morrison: Like I said, he’s mentally deranged.
(SM) So where is Tommy Morrison now in terms of a comeback?
Tommy Morrison: This is going to be an exciting year for me, I’ll just leave it at that.
(SM) What if you wouldn’t have lost those eleven years in the ring? What would life be like today?
Tommy Morrison: A slow train wreck.
(SM) Do you keep in touch with any fighters today and how do they support you in your comeback?
Tommy Morrison: Fighters are fighters. We got each others backs in terms of support. But regarding making friends with other fighters, Johnny Tapia and many others.
(SM) Tommy is there anything else you want to tell the readers out there?
Tommy Morrison: Just to catch me at www.tommymorrison.net or Myspace.com/tommythedukemorrison.
![](https://www.boxinginsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/logo.png)
AlbertImipt
06/25/2024 at 12:49 am
pin up az?rbaycan https://azerbaijancuisine.com/# pin up casino azerbaycan
pin up 306
Williamfrumn
06/26/2024 at 10:07 am
mexico drug stores pharmacies: buying prescription drugs in mexico – mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
Williamfrumn
06/26/2024 at 12:54 pm
mexican pharmaceuticals online: northern doctors pharmacy – mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
Williamfrumn
06/26/2024 at 5:18 pm
п»їbest mexican online pharmacies: mexican northern doctors – mexico drug stores pharmacies
Richardled
06/27/2024 at 2:46 am
best online pharmacies in mexico [url=http://northern-doctors.org/#]mexican pharmacy northern doctors[/url] best online pharmacies in mexico
Richardled
06/27/2024 at 12:06 pm
mexican mail order pharmacies [url=https://northern-doctors.org/#]mexican northern doctors[/url] mexico drug stores pharmacies
Richardled
06/27/2024 at 9:04 pm
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs [url=https://northern-doctors.org/#]mexican northern doctors[/url] п»їbest mexican online pharmacies
Williamfrumn
06/28/2024 at 4:51 am
mexican drugstore online: mexico drug stores pharmacies – mexican rx online
Williamfrumn
06/28/2024 at 1:01 pm
buying prescription drugs in mexico: northern doctors – buying from online mexican pharmacy
Jeffreyber
06/29/2024 at 2:16 am
https://cmqpharma.online/# medicine in mexico pharmacies
reputable mexican pharmacies online
Stephenrhype
06/29/2024 at 11:51 am
mexico pharmacy: cmqpharma.com – mexico pharmacy
DonaldBiono
06/29/2024 at 1:23 pm
mexico drug stores pharmacies
https://cmqpharma.online/# mexican mail order pharmacies
mexico drug stores pharmacies
CharlesRor
07/20/2024 at 1:10 am
canadian pharmacy store [url=https://canadapharmast.online/#]canadian pharmacies compare[/url] canadian pharmacy uk delivery
CharlesRor
07/20/2024 at 9:23 am
buying prescription drugs in mexico online [url=http://foruspharma.com/#]medication from mexico pharmacy[/url] mexican mail order pharmacies
EdwardLoobe
07/20/2024 at 2:30 pm
https://foruspharma.com/# mexican rx online
CharlesRor
07/20/2024 at 7:19 pm
india pharmacy mail order [url=https://indiapharmast.com/#]online shopping pharmacy india[/url] india online pharmacy
CharlesRor
07/21/2024 at 5:06 am
my canadian pharmacy rx [url=https://canadapharmast.com/#]legal canadian pharmacy online[/url] safe online pharmacies in canada
Davidtoows
07/21/2024 at 6:05 am
medicine in mexico pharmacies: mexico drug stores pharmacies – mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa
Jamesjam
07/21/2024 at 4:43 pm
get clomid now: cheap clomid now – can i purchase clomid price
Myronnepay
07/21/2024 at 6:30 pm
https://clomiddelivery.pro/# where to buy generic clomid pills
doxycycline 75 mg price [url=https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/#]buy doxycycline[/url] doxycycline 50 mg price
Myronnepay
07/22/2024 at 3:41 am
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy generic ciprofloxacin
buy clomid tablets [url=https://clomiddelivery.pro/#]clomid for sale[/url] can you buy clomid now
Myronnepay
07/22/2024 at 1:09 pm
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# ciprofloxacin 500mg buy online
buy amoxicillin 500mg online [url=https://amoxildelivery.pro/#]over the counter amoxicillin[/url] amoxicillin for sale online
Jamesjam
07/22/2024 at 5:57 pm
where can i buy amoxicillin online: amoxicillin 500mg tablets price in india – generic amoxicillin cost
Thomaskef
07/22/2024 at 9:22 pm
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# Paxlovid buy online
Myronnepay
07/22/2024 at 10:38 pm
https://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid covid
paxlovid for sale [url=http://paxloviddelivery.pro/#]paxlovid for sale[/url] paxlovid cost without insurance
Myronnepay
07/23/2024 at 7:53 am
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# cheapest doxycycline 100mg
buy cipro [url=http://ciprodelivery.pro/#]ciprofloxacin generic price[/url] where can i buy cipro online
Myronnepay
07/23/2024 at 5:24 pm
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# where can i get clomid
amoxicillin over counter [url=https://amoxildelivery.pro/#]amoxicillin 500 tablet[/url] amoxicillin where to get
Myronnepay
07/24/2024 at 3:04 am
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# amoxicillin price canada
paxlovid covid [url=http://paxloviddelivery.pro/#]paxlovid for sale[/url] Paxlovid over the counter
Jamesjam
07/24/2024 at 8:43 pm
doxycycline 100mg: doxycycline order uk – doxycycline 150 mg cost