Greatest White Heavyweight of All

[speedster]

After the Ray Mercer knockout Tommy appeared to take a bit of a different approach when he was tagged with a good shot.He would still tense up and if there was a follow-up from his opponent and Tommy wasn't feeling right he would just take a knee henceforth all the knockdowns in his career.Better to clear your head so that you can keep on fighting and avoid another Mercer debacle which I think was always on Tommy's mind.Edited by: speedster

 

[JD074]

One note about Morrison: Last night I saw a video of him fighting Tillis; he destroyed the guy within a couple of minutes. And just now I saw the Tyson/ Tillis fight on ESPN Classic; Tillis went the distance with Tyson, losing the decision. Also, Morrison and Tyson were at about the same point in their careers when they fought Tillis (Morrison was 24-0 and Tyson was 19-0.) I thought that was interesting.

 

[speedster]

In his book Tillis claims that he threw the fight against Morrison.

After Tommy decked Tillis with that first big left hook you would have thought a guy "throwing" a fight would have stayed down,but Tillis got up and took a couple more solid combinations and goes down.Now he stays down right? Nope,he takes more shots before it's stopped with Tillis sliding along the ropes.JD074,did that look like a guy throwing a fight?George Foreman said that he also let Tommy of the "hook" in their fight.Edited by: speedster

 

[Triad]

In his book Tillis claims that he threw the fight against Morrison.

And Rahman thinks he was sucker punched by Maskaev. There is actually a black gene that won't let them admit defeat in a fair athletic competition to a white even if millions of people witnessed it.

 

[JD074]

Absolutely guys. Tillis is a masochist if he threw that fight. And if it weren't for the 3 knockdown rule who knows how many times he would've been floored!

 

[Guest]

One note about Morrison: Last night I saw a video of him fighting Tillis; he destroyed the guy within a couple of minutes. And just now I saw the Tyson/ Tillis fight on ESPN Classic; Tillis went the distance with Tyson, losing the decision. Also, Morrison and Tyson were at about the same point in their careers when they fought Tillis (Morrison was 24-0 and Tyson was 19-0.) I thought that was interesting.

So I guess what you're saying is, Tommy Morrison was way, way better than Mike Tyson then. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HAHA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.Thanks. I needed that one.Dude, you're good. Seriously, you're flippin' hilarious, bro. Got any others? C'mon, my jobis a lot of stress and I could use a good laugh, you know, to kind of cool me down after work and all, make me feel good. Laughter's great medicine, you know. It's been proven.Edited by: Frank Rizzo

 

[White Shogun]

One note about Morrison: Last night I saw a video of him fighting Tillis; he destroyed the guy within a couple of minutes. And just now I saw the Tyson/ Tillis fight on ESPN Classic; Tillis went the distance with Tyson, losing the decision. Also, Morrison and Tyson were at about the same point in their careers when they fought Tillis (Morrison was 24-0 and Tyson was 19-0.) I thought that was interesting.

So I guess what you're saying is, Tommy Morrison was way, way better than Mike Tyson then. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA. Thanks. I needed that one. Dude, you're good. Seriously, you're flippin' hilarious, bro. Got any others? C'mon, my job is a lot of stress and I could use a good laugh, you know, to kind of cool me down after work and all, make me feel good. Laughter's great medicine, you know. It's been proven.

Clever argument, Rizzo! You have outwitted the wittiest and presented your facts and data forthrightly and clearly. I am convinced by the logic of your arguments.

Not.

Why don't you contribute something to the conversation when you post here, instead of wasting our time writing this stuff.

 

[Guest]

smileys/smiley2.gif[/img]

At last--thank heaven!--a voice of reason on this forum. This jcole guy is legit. You guys, all me and jcole are trying to do is keep you guys from destroying your own credibility. Look, if you want to talk tough white guys, Vitali's injury bug really drags his reputation in the mud; however, when the guy was not injured,Vitali could have gone back in time in a time machine and beat the living hell out of Cooney and Morrison. In fact, I seriously think he could have beaten them both at the same time. Cooney & Morrison together against Vitali, two-on-one; both Cooney and Morrison would have to hit Vitali multiple times to even get his attention, but if Vitali even breathed on the chins of those two bums, it would be stretcher time. Two stretchers, two white bums being carried out; a real legitimate white fighter walking out on his own two feet, triumphant, and his name is Vitali.


Now--Jerry Quarry would have given Vitali a helluva fight. Jerry Quarry was for real, although he wasn't quite at the level of the elite black guys of the late 60s and early 70s. Quarry didn't have great power, but he had good power, and he could take a shot and stand in there with the best of them.


And, Rocky Marciano--he would have given Vitali a lot of problems, especially if they grew up in the same era, eating the same food, etc.


But STOP sticking up for lousy white fighters just because they were white. It undermines your credibility.Edited by: Frank Rizzo

 

[JD074]

So I guess what you're saying is, Tommy Morrison was way, way better than Mike Tyson then.

You guessed wrong. I compared the fights, not the fighters. I couldn't care less whether Morrison was better than Tyson. I just thought that it was interesting that Morrison easily dismantled a fighter that Tyson couldn't finish.

You guys, all me and jcole are trying to do is keep you guys from destroying your own credibility.

Oh, so that's why you're here! You just want to rescue us. You're so compassionate! And I thought you were here to tout the athletic supremacy of Afro Super Slaves. Man do I feel foolish. Thank you so much for your help.

Now--Jerry Quarry would have given Vitali a helluva fight.

I doubt it. Not big enough, in my opinion.

But STOP sticking up for lousy white fighters just because they were white. It undermines your credibility.

We can like whatever white athletes we want for whatever reason and there's not a damn thing you can do about it. So you can either stick around and be constantly annoyed, or go elsewhere. Edited by: JD074

 

[white lightning]

Well put JD074.Here's another way to look at it.Did most people in the US stop rooting for Lenox Lewis when lost?What about Rahman or even Tyson?Why should we give up on a Oleg Maskaev when he has proved that he belongs?Why give up on Wladimir Klitschko?Anyone can lost a few fights but it takes a true champion to come back and win.These guys also have something that most athletes lack these days.Character!It's nice to root for guys in sports similar to yourself.Guys that you would hang out with even if they were not sports stars.AS JD said,we will root for who we like and you can do the same.I still think that overall you will like it here.

 

[Guest]

For most guys, if you described the following scenario, it's simple:


if they cheated on their girlfriend, and their girlfriend found out about it and confronted them, they would rather their girlfriend slapped them in the face, rather than kick them in the nuts.


But guys like Cooney, Morrison, or Clifford Etienne, guys like that--for those guys, you know it's gotta be different. You gotta think they'd choose getting kicked in the nuts instead of any kind of tap on the grill. Because at least then, with only a nutshot, they could get up in 5, 10, or 15 minutes, something like that. Butyou gotta protect that chin. I don't care who's hitting those guys--guy, girl, whatever--you gottachin like that, keep it protected, whatever you do.


Come to think of it, they oughtta makeface cups for guys like Cooney and Morrison. Chin cups. Elastic straps around the ears. The whole nine yards. Anything to keep those guys upright and in the saddle. Do what you gotta do.Edited by: Frank Rizzo

 

[Kaptain]

Now--Jerry Quarry would have given Vitali a helluva fight. Jerry Quarry was for real, although he wasn't quite at the level of the elite black guys of the late 60s and early 70s. Quarry didn't have great power, but he had good power, and he could take a shot and stand in there with the best of them.

Are you serious? Vitali would easily beat any of the elite black fighters of the 60's and 70's. As such Jerry Quarry would present him no real challenge. If you haven't noticed, HW boxing is changing as the largest, strongest, and proudest breed of people are now being allowed to compete for the first time since the cold war. Even though I'm sure you tell your wife otherwise, size does matter.

From the tone of your posts thus far it seems you really don't believe Vitali would have beaten most of the former black "elite" champions, but could easily beat any other white guy. Tell me what black champions do you think Vitali could defeat? Any??

4 for 4 "bro" !

 

[White Shogun]

For most guys, if you described the following scenario, it's simple:


if they cheated on their girlfriend, and their girlfriend found out about it and confronted them, they would rather their girlfriend slapped them in the face, rather than kick them in the nuts.


But guys like Cooney, Morrison, or Clifford Etienne, guys like that--for those guys, you know it's gotta be different. You gotta think they'd choose getting kicked in the nuts instead of any kind of tap on the grill. Because at least then, with only a nutshot, they could get up in 5, 10, or 15 minutes, something like that. But you gotta protect that chin. I don't care who's hitting those guys--guy, girl, whatever--you gotta chin like that, keep it protected, whatever you do.


Come to think of it, they oughtta make face cups for guys like Cooney and Morrison. Chin cups. Elastic straps around the ears. The whole nine yards. Anything to keep those guys upright and in the saddle. Do what you gotta do.

Hey, look everybody, a comedian!

He'll be here all week, folks! Don't miss a show!

 

[jcolec02]

all im saying is a guy like wlad, vitali or marciano are head over heels better than morrison, or cooney, or quarryTHATS ALL

 

[Kaptain]

all im saying is a guy like wlad, vitali or marciano are head over heels better than morrison, or cooney, or quarryTHATS ALL

But why even say that? That goes without saying and nobody on this site has argued otherwise. My user name is Kaptain Poop - maybe yours should be Captain Obvious.

I would doubt that black discussion boards are only allowed to discuss the greatness of Michael Jordan and Muhammed Ali so don't try to limit our discussion to a handful of white athletes.

BTW, how does it feel to be considered "legit" by your "bro", Frank Rizzo?

Edited by: Kaptain Poop

 

[Iron]

For most guys, if you described the following scenario, it's simple:


if they cheated on their girlfriend, and their girlfriend found out about it and confronted them, they would rather their girlfriend slapped them in the face, rather than kick them in the nuts.


But guys like Cooney, Morrison, or Clifford Etienne, guys like that--for those guys, you know it's gotta be different. You gotta think they'd choose getting kicked in the nuts instead of any kind of tap on the grill. Because at least then, with only a nutshot, they could get up in 5, 10, or 15 minutes, something like that. But you gotta protect that chin. I don't care who's hitting those guys--guy, girl, whatever--you gotta chin like that, keep it protected, whatever you do.


Come to think of it, they oughtta make face cups for guys like Cooney and Morrison. Chin cups. Elastic straps around the ears. The whole nine yards. Anything to keep those guys upright and in the saddle. Do what you gotta do.

So you put Ettiene in the same class as Morrison.What an insult to Tommy.No one is saying Morrison is the greatest,but he was the only elite White heavy in a period of sustained Black domination,he excited fans all over the world and he hit like a two tonne truck.

Morrison in terms of one punch power hit every bit as hard as Tyson.People may laugh at that which they have done on other forums,but on any given night against any heavy,Morrison,s punches if landed clean would have the same impact as Tyson's which is confirmed by the fact that his results against common opponents he shared with Tyson were better.

If you doubt his punch,especially the left hook,then take alook at the Razor Ruddock fight,a man Tyson could'nt put down in 19 rounds of boxing.In the sixth or seventh round Morrison landed a left hook so devastating it was a surprise Ruddock even survived.The punch would have killed almost any other mortal man and landed with such impact that Ruddock was literally unconcious before hitting the deck.It was the impact his head made with the canvas which awoke him from his slumber.

Morrison had great physical talent,handspeed,power,
natural rythm.Everything.He could punch in combinations.He never achieved his potential due to poor fundamentals which any elite coach could easily of sorted.The fact he never saught out a real top trainer,which makes such a difference.Look at the difference Emanuel Steward has made with Wlad and Lennox Lewis prior ,both of whom made amateur mistakes before Steward ironed them out.Theirs no telling what the Duke could have achieved with the talent he possesed.

He was also very intelligent and personable,which is another reason he's loved.His acting performance in Rocky 5 was remarkable considering he had come from no acting background whatsoever.To pass the casting test,memorise his lines,establish his character and interact with his fellow performers,most of whom far more experienced was something that cant be overstated.How many of them sullen,insolent,thugish overpaid Black sports stars,you know ,the ones we must accept as our superiors could pull off something like that..Morrison was certainly no bum.

Edited by: Iron

 

[Triad]

No one is saying Morrison is the greatest,but he was the only elite White heavy in a period of sustained Black domination,he excited fans all over the world and he hit like a two tonne truck.

Their minds are made up guys, no use in confusing mr. rizzo and his boy J.C. with the facts. One is just here to cause trouble (save us) and the other, if his profile is correct, was only 9-10 years old when Morrison retired - that makes him a real Tommy Morrison expert.

How would Morrison do in the ring vs Tyson? It's entirely speculation. We can only go by common opponents and the results from those fights, the two are comparable.

 

[white is right]

Prime Tyson Morrison would have no chance(I was a big fan of Morrison and leg iron before his life went tabloid press). The Tyson post prison Morrison of that period could have beat if he fought him smartly. Post Rooney Tyson had no defense and was a one punch bomber similar to Tua. That's why Holyfield beat Mike he timed his rushes and counter punched him to death...

 

[Guest]

The Michael Bentt fight was one Tommy should not have lost.It was an HBO showcase title fight to get Morrison ready for his fight with Lennox Lewis.John Brown,Tommy's trainer at the time,totally did not want this fight,but most people thought it would be a cakewalk.Tommy's first punch hurt Bentt and Morrison went in for the kill throwing these really wide shots.Only the ropes kept Bentt up after another of Tommy's shots so at that point Bentt figured a good defence is a good offence and fired back.A Morrison right just missed and Bentt countered with a right of his own and BOOM!Two knockdowns later and it was over.Sloppy effort by the Duke.Years later Tommy was asked what he could do over in his career and he replied "To see how many times I could knock Michael Bentt down in a minute".He still has no respect for the man.

Thank you for reminding us what a lousy chin Morrison had. Some of the guys on this thread have apparently forgotten.

 

[Guest]

Tommy Morrison's professional record was 46 - 3- 1 , with 40 KNOCKOUTS. Notable victories over legitimate heavyweights included: Pinklon Thomas, Carl Williams, Razor Ruddock, and James Q. Tillis, George Foreman, Joe Hipp. All received title shots.

[/QUOTE]





Don't even talk about his performance against Foreman. Yeah, Morrison won, but he ran like a jack rabbit from him the whole time. Mind you, he didn't "stick and move" like an Ali--Morrison could never do that, because he didn't have the long reach and good jab that that requires. But a lot of guys don't have that, and they're still quality fighers. The thing I remember being ashamed about for that fight, was how Morrison, when he was running from Foreman, ACTUALLY TURNED HIS BACK and ran from him. He did this the whole fight. And the only reason Foreman couldn't follow him was because Foreman was so ancient. Look, I don't blame Morrison for not trading with Foreman--it was the wise strategy. But the way he did it looked so awkward and yes, even cowardly at the time, to be turning his back on his opponent and running. I remember people booing Morrison for that during the middle rounds. I remember thinking, "If Morrison really can't go backward without showing his back to his opponent, he's not very fundamentally sound." Somebody should have trained the guy on how to back up without turning full around and looking cowardly.


For real. I've never seen a guy show his back to his opponent so much in a fight, and Morrison did it for the entire fight. I remember being ashamed at Morrison for celebrating when his arm was raised as the winner. He was actually celebrating showing his back to an old man for 10 rounds. Not good. Not a proud moment in the history of caucasoid boxing.

 

[Bart]

Look, I don't blame Morrison for not trading with Foreman--it was the wise strategy. But the way he did it looked so awkward and yes, even cowardly at the time, to be turning his back on his opponent and running. [/QUOTE]


I haven't seen that fight but certainlydon't trust your account. Cassius Clay spent more time backpeddling and running from fighters than anybody and he's considered an all-time great. Go figure. Even when Tommy wins he loses in your book.

 

[freedom1]

I saw that fight. Morrison did what he had to do. He went in with a strategy and followed it. His trainers instructed him that under no circumstances was he to trade with Foreman. He was to get in, land, and get out. That's what he did. It was well known that Foreman had the ability to end a fight with one punch at anytime and Morrison's team was taking no chances.

I just saw this on Eastside Boxing:

SMV to produce Tommy Morrison documentary

Santa Monica, CA (SMV) August 22, 2006 - Score! Media Ventures announced today that it has entered into an agreement with Integrity Entertainment to produce a documentary on the professional boxer Tommy Morrison. Morrison, the former WBO heavyweight world champion, has fought the likes of Lennox Lewis and George Foreman and is attempting a comeback at the age of 38. The film will document his struggle to return to former glory..

"I first met with Jeff Astgen, Integrity's CEO, last month to discuss a reality show project. During the discussion, I realized that our firms do business in a like manner. When Integrity was presented with the Morrison project, I was both pleased and grateful he contacted me to discuss a collaborative effort. Today is a landmark for our firm," remarked Dennis Bernstein, SMV's Chairman. The untitled project marks SMV's first foray into the field of filmed entertainment.

"With his numerous contacts in the world of boxing, Dennis was a natural for inclusion in this project. Not only has he attended many world championship boxing matches as the Chairman of SMV but is an astute businessman as well. This agreement makes the likelihood of success even greater," Astgen conveyed.

The film will delve into Morrison's faith as a source of redemption from his troubles after his premature retirement, creating a unique opportunity to create a vehicle for both religious and secular audiences. "Tommy was a world class boxer in the 90's and is known by the public-at-large by virtue of his starring role as Tommy Gunn in Rocky V. Although he has been out of the ring for a decade, the lack of talented and charismatic fighters in the heavyweight division makes his return to the sport an intriguing and topical story," Bernstein concluded. Production is scheduled to start in Phoenix, AZ in mid-September.

 

[White Shogun]

I think Rizzo has some serious man-love going for Morrison. He's obsessed with Tommy, or so it seems. He spends more time bashing Morrison than discussing any other topic on the board.

 

[Guest]

I think Rizzo has some serious man-love going for Morrison. He's obsessed with Tommy, or so it seems. He spends more time bashing Morrison than discussing any other topic on the board.

You forgot Primo Cooney.

 

[freedom1]

Here's a recent interview with Tommy. I personally think he's on the border between being confident and disillusioned.



Morrison still walking tall, eyes comeback

In February 1996, the boxing world was shaken to its core when ex-WBO/IBC heavyweight champion and
Rocky V star Tommy "The Duke" Morrison failed a pre-fight physical examination, testing positive for HIV. He immediately announced his retirement from the ring.

Now a decade later, Tommy Morrison plans to take on the Nevada State Athletic Commission that banned him from the sport and launch a comeback.

Morrison (46-3-1, 40 KOs) wants to return to the ring at the age of 37 and attempt to pick up where he left off nearly 10 years ago. But he'll be faced with strong opposition when it comes to regaining his boxing license in America because of his illness.

"I'm a young 37," Morrison said. "I didn't get beat up. Hell, I only lost three fights out of 50."

"I'm looking forward to fighting someone," he said. "I can do it. There's no doubt about it. It pisses me off that they won't let me, but I'm going to try and change that. There's no way they should be able to kick me out of the sport for something that's harmless, unless you believe the government."

Morrison is planning to file a lawsuit against the Nevada State Athletic Commission on the grounds of HIV discrimination for refusing to grant him a boxing license and preventing him from making a living as a boxer.

Morrison had just signed a three-fight $38.5 million deal with promoter Don King when his career was derailed.

"The first fight was going to be Stormy Weathers, who I would've took out during the National Anthem," Morrison said during a long interview. "And then we'd fight another journeyman, someone a little tougher. And then I would've fought (Mike) Tyson right out of prison."

Tyson had recently been released from prison after serving three years on a rape conviction and had already fought Peter McNeeley and Buster Mathis Jr. when Morrison was scheduled to fight Weathers. Morrison's mega-clash with Tyson was planned for the latter part of 1996. Morrison and his advisers had spent nearly three days in Florida negotiating their multi-million-dollar deal with King.

"Here's the deal with Don King," Morrison said. "I don't mind being in a room full of snakes as long as the light's on. Turn the lights off, I start getting a little nervous. He threw a million dollars in cash on the table when we had our meeting. We spent three days with him down in Fort Lauderdale. Million dollars in cash. First time I'd ever seen that. We heard he'd do that.

"He gets those guys with world-class ability that can't read and throws a couple hundred thousand dollars at them," he said. "More money than they've ever seen in their life, and they sign their life away. I knew what I was worth. I wasn't going to sign my life away for a million bucks. You kidding me? The IRS or the FBI, they're going to nail King eventually. If they have to invent the law to throw him in prison, they're going to."

But then Morrison failed his physical exam for the Weathers match and the news broke two days later about his medical condition, killing the entire contract and any hope of him fighting Tyson for the biggest payday of his career.

"Every sparring partner that I worked with that had worked with Tyson said I'd beat him. It took eight years of my life to get to that point," Morrison said. "I was going to cash in. I was going to leave boxing with a good example to follow. That was my whole plan. And it just didn't happen. That was the first time they started testing for HIV.

"I've always felt like there was some type of conspiracy going on. I would've beat Tyson. I have no doubt about that. Everything was clicking. I worked eight years of my life to get to that one pinnacle fight, and they yanked the damn rug out from under me."

With the help of George Foreman, Morrison did fight one last fight in Japan in November 1996 after his license was revoked in the United States. He knocked out Marcus Rhode in the first round and formed his Knockout AIDS Foundation that he's still trying to keep alive.

"I could go overseas, but who the hell wants to do that?" he said. "I would just be doing it for the money. I love to fight. I'll do that s--- at the drop of a hat. I'm thinking about going and applying for a license. They probably won't even let me in the door."

When his license was revoked in Nevada 10 years ago, all other states with boxing commissions upheld the indefinite suspension, and it's doubtful that any state will allow him to fight in the United States unless he first wins his battle in court.

"About a year ago, I was going to do an exhibition down in West Virginia," Morrison said. "The commission wouldn't even let me do that. I'm talking about headgear, everything. They wouldn't even let me spar. That's bulls---."



Tommy Morrison bows to the crowd after beating Marcus Rhode in Tokyo in November of 1996, his last fight. (Al Bello / Getty Images)

Before leaving the ring in 1996, Morrison fought memorable fights against Lennox Lewis and Donovan "Razor" Ruddock. He was stopped by Lewis in the sixth round after suffering a severe cut over his right eye, going most of the fight with an eye that had been battered shut.

In June 1993, Morrison fought ring legend George Foreman for the WBO heavyweight championship that had been vacated by Michael Moorer. In what was Morrison's finest boxing performance, he won a unanimous decision by a wide margin on all three judges' scorecards and won the belt.

"The Foreman fight was one of the easiest fights I ever had," Morrison said. "I mean, it was hard because I wasn't used to going that many rounds.

"After Foreman beat Michael Moorer and won the title, I was supposed to fight the winner of that fight for the WBO title again," Morrison said. "Foreman ended up winning and he hauled a--. He didn't want to fight again. I don't blame him because the same thing would've happened in probably a little better fashion. I had his number. I exposed him. I showed the world how to beat him."

After the Foreman fight, Morrison would easily put away Tim Tomashek in four rounds. Tomashek had been pulled out of the audience when original opponent Mike Williams refused to enter the ring minutes before the fight was to begin.

Morrison's next fight was expected to be another easy title defense against Michael Bentt, a fighter with a record of only 10-1-0 and five KOs. But Morrison was stopped in the first round in a shocking upset in front of his hometown crowd in Tulsa, Okla.

" I was maybe a little overconfident," Morrison said. "Yeah, Christmas came early that night.

"If I fought Michael Bentt a hundred times, I'd beat him a hundred times. He caught me with a great right hand, bounced off the ropes. It was a hard straight shot right down the pipe. And it dropped me. Flash knockdown. That was at a point in me career where I really didn't know how to fight any other way than coming forward and throwing heavy shots. It's just one of those things. It was the most humiliating moment of the whole eight years I fought professional. It was in front of my home crowd.

"Like I tell everybody, if you stick around long enough, I don't care who you are, sooner or later you're going to get your a-- handed to you. It happens to everybody. It's happened to the greatest fighters in history."

Bentt was reach via e-mail and refused to be interviewed for this story. But he allowed his thoughts expressed in e-mails to be used.

"Nothing that I say is going to offer those who fashion themselves boxing 'experts' and a 'Tommy fan' a better or a more useful comprehension of the events of Oct. 29, 1993," Bentt wrote. "Simply put, sometimes you/me/we just gotta chalk it up to one man's or one team's 'magic' being realized against insurmountable odds. I don't know what Tommy's doing now, but as a fellow warrior I wish him all the best.

"I'm inspired not to let boxing or the night I fought Morrison define me. I'm more than just the guy that 'derailed' Tommy Morrison, just as Tommy is more than just the white guy that beat George Foreman and lost to the guy with 10 pro fights and five national championships and four New York City Golden Gloves titles, but who's bragging."

Before winning the WBO title against Foreman, Morrison fought numerous fights, including wars against Carl "The Truth" Williams and Joe Hipp. Morrison had Williams on the canvas in the first and third rounds but suffered two knockdowns himself in the fifth before stopping Williams in the eighth round.

In what was one of the most brutal wars of the 1990s, Morrison broke both of his hands in the fight against Hipp and suffered a broken jaw and severe cut over his right eye. Morrison also broke Hipp's jaw in the fight.

Morrison also endured what could be called the most brutal knockout ever seen on television when he fought "Merciless" Ray Mercer in October 1991 for the WBO heavyweight championship of the world. Morrison was winning the fight through the first three rounds but started to run out of gas in the fourth. Mercer unloaded on Morrison and had him out on the ropes when unleashed more than a dozen brutal punches upon him before the referee finally jumped in and stopped the fight.

"I'd like to have that fight over again," Morrison said. "I was kind of pushed into that fight too early, all for money's purposes. Half a million dollars. Nobody knew Mercer could take that kind of punch. I didn't."

"That was the first time I ever got mad at (Morrison's trainer Tommy Virgets) and his corner men," Morrison's mother, Diana "Flossie" Good, said. "It took three people to hold me down in my seat. I felt they should've stopped it. You don't let your boy get hit that many times after he's out. I was so angry. That fight there was the most upsetting time with a fight that I have ever experienced. I was three rows back from his corner. I jumped one row of seats before Tommy's dad grabbed me."

Looking back to the time when Morrison was active and comparing it to the heavyweight division today, there's no denying that there was a deeper talent pool in the 1990s. Fighters such as Tyson, Bowe and Evander Holyfield would have certainly been future opponents for Morrison had he not had to leave the sport.

"Riddick Bowe, I sparred him one time," Morrison said. "We were supposed to go four rounds. After three rounds he quit. I would've killed him. He's lazy. Eddie Futch was on his a-- from the time I got there until I left.

"When Holyfield fought Foreman, I fought on the undercard. I fought a Russian dude, another southpaw, by the name of Uri Vaulin. Helluva boxer. Like every other southpaw I ever fought, he had good skills, good boxer. He didn't hit very hard. He beat my a-- for four rounds until I caught up with him. Then I landed a body shot and it was all over. But had I had a better showing that night I would've fought Holyfield next. I don't think he could've held up to my power. He would've for a few rounds, but I would've caught him. I think he knew that.

"Tyson's made for me. Our styles are similar. But I'm faster than he is. My left hook is shorter, quicker and he's not the same anymore. He hasn't been since he lost to Douglas. He didn't have a passion for what he was doing. The same passion I didn't have towards the end."



------------------------------------------------------------ --------------------

Looking at the heavyweight division today and its fighters such as James Toney, Chris Byrd and Joe Mesi, one wonders how Morrison would've done against them.

"If God came down here today and told me that I could punch just one person in the mouth, it'd be James Toney," Morrison said. "I can't stand him. He's a thug gangster. He's nothing more than a blown up light heavyweight.

"Chris Byrd is the odd man out. Nobody wants to fight him anyway because he's slick. He can't hurt you. But he's slick. He's a southpaw. My management threw me in there with every southpaw who came down the pike. And I always looked like s--- against them until I caught up with them. They were susceptible to a left hook.

"Tony Holden (Morrison's ex-promoter) was promoting Joe Mesi. He called me up and flew me up to Buffalo, N.Y. He wanted me to watch Joe Mesi and tell him what I thought. I told Tony he doesn't have it. He doesn't hit hard enough and he's too good looking! He's not tough enough for the sport. Who was it, Monte Barrett that put him into retirement? That guy couldn't crack an egg. Some people just aren't built for the game.

"About a year before Jones got knocked out by Tarver, I was up at the Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota. And I was having drinks and stuff one night there in the bar, and Roy Jones' dad was there. He'd had quite a few to drink. And I got to talking to him. He told me, 'You know, if Roy ever gets his a-- handed to him, he'll never fight again.' And I was like, wow, that was odd for his father to be sitting there telling me this. I wasn't going to be fighting him. Everybody knew I was retired. I don't know if it was the alcohol talking or whatever. But sure enough, that's exactly what happened. He's never been the same. Some people can't recover from that. Pass the torch."



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Morrison said the state of the heavyweight division today isn't much different than other cycles it's gone through over the years.

"Boxing is in the same condition it was," Morrison said. "It goes through this about every 10 or 12 years. Back in 1985 when Tyson came along, Larry Holmes had been champion for eight years. And Tyson came along and was wading through these guys. Everybody thought he was Superman. After three rounds he was an average fighter. He's got the skill to come back and clean up if he'd do it. But he just doesn't have the desire. He doesn't want it.

"I'm going to challenge him (Tyson) to a fight. Just a four-rounder. Do it on pay-per-view. Get Bowe, Holyfield and make a four-round tournament. Do it in Mexico. I don't know why every heavyweight that's put on the gloves in the last 10 or 12 years that's retired is not back in the sport. That's why I don't understand why there's not a fire under Tyson's a--. It's wide open."

Morrison's many plans for the future include training other fighters, doing boxing commentating again and spearheading a movement to create a pension plan for fighters.

"Branson, Mo., is like a little Vegas there," Morrison said. "Gambling's coming. I'd like to have me a stable of fighters. I'm going to open me up a professional fight gym there in Branson. It will give me an opportunity to get back into the game in a different arena. I just have to find the right guy. I've always wanted to train somebody.

"One thing that I have done before in the past and certainly want to get back into when the opportunity presents itself, and I believe it will, is boxing commentating. I worked for FOX for a couple of months back in like '97, '98, somewhere. Back when I was still part idiot. I got a DUI and, of course, they fired me. But that's something I got my feet wet in and I enjoyed it.

"I can put things in terms that people can understand, because not everyone understands boxing. People up there trying to sound like Einstein, like Larry Merchant and Jim Lampley who are supposedly boxing experts and have never laced up a glove in their life. That's crazy.

"I want to create a pension plan for fighters. I want to win my lawsuit. I don't know what interest on two or three million dollars is over nine years. But a portion of that, I want to use to start a pension plan for fighters. Hell, every sport on the face of the planet has one except boxing. And I cannot think of a sport that needs it more. Everybody says the same thing: The reason why it hasn't happened is because of the promoters."



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When Morrison was fighting, he endured the same criticism about a lack of skills that every white heavyweight seems to endure. Many questioned his skills as a boxer, but he gave a masterful boxing performance against Foreman. And no one can deny that Morrison has more heart than many of the heavyweights today combined.

"I'm starting to get the credit I deserved back then, a little recognition," Morrison said. "People are starting to say, 'Yeah, maybe he wouldn't do too bad after all.' Being a white heavyweight in this world today, you're still a commodity, especially if you can fight. There's just not many of them that can. I was the last white American heavyweight champion since Marciano.

"Even in my training, I would always wait until the last possible day to show up at camp. That way my back was against the wall. And I preferred it that way. You got the best out of me."

From a career-ending illness to months in prison to his life without boxing today, Morrison continues to get up from every knockdown that life throws at him.

"I think I've only really scratched the surface on what I was supposed to do here in this world," Morrison said. "One thing that inspired me was that I kept surprising people. The only two things that have ever inspired me in my life is someone believing in me, No. 1, and No. 2, someone telling me I can't do something. I've just got that spirit about me that just motivates me.

"Everything was going great and I'd gotten to that one point. And it was like God said, 'Um, not right now.' I could sit around and beat myself up about it, but life's too short to be unhappy. I just want to inspire people, particularly fighters in the game. I want to do everything. I want to act. I want to commentate. I'd like to get a couple of racehorses one day.

"I didn't have the right spirit about me back then. I was young. I was a wild man. I didn't go as hog wild as I could've. It was a little overwhelming how people treated me. I don't like people kissing my a--. I was never real big on being popular. I just like doing normal things."

The life and career of Morrison contains the makings of a compelling hit movie and best-selling biography, both of which are still on the table to be produced in the future. But the life of Tommy Morrison is far from over and the final chapter is yet to be written.

If there's one thing that we can all be sure of, it's that Morrison can be knocked down but never knocked out for good. He's gotten up from more of life's knockdowns than most people could possibly endure, and he's still walking tall.