Tommy Morrison

[El Kabong]

Tommy Morrison was a rugged brawler early on, big time power, but fighting out of nowhere, I mean how many greats come from Oklahoma (he was born in Arkansas raised in OK) His early career was really plugging along quite well, but 'Rocky V' really got the spotlight on him and he was an outstanding 28-0-0 by the time he fought Ray Mercer. Some of those 28 were bums, but some were veteran boxers who are the norm for an up and comer to fight and he really did work his way up well.

Morrison's camp always said "Nobody knew Ray (Mercer) could take that kind of punishment" and I believe it, he was 17-0-0 going into that fight and I think the strongest puncher he faced before Tommy fought him was Bert Cooper who had pop but was a small heavyweight. Also Tommy and Ray had a good close fight in the amateurs at the Olympic trials which Tommy lost by SD....so I believe they thought they were just going to steam roll Ray, but Ray wasn't having any of it.

Tommy was a great fighter to watch because he gave you the drama with his power, with his defensive lapses, with his heart being bigger than his brain for the most part. Had Tommy been more of a boxer/puncher he'd probably have had more success as a boxer but far less fan support. Morrison was the heavyweight Arturo Gatti...he'd start out with the intentions of boxing and then go all brawler (except against Foreman who scared him straight).

The HIV result was a bad one. Tommy was only 26/27 years old when he was diagnosed with HIV in 1996 so he had a number of years left in him and then after boxing he may have gone back to acting. I certainly could see Tommy Morrison getting in on 'The Expendables' franchise had he never gotten HIV/AIDS. I believe Morrison was lining up to fight Michael Moorer at the time of his positive test and he was on a path to fight Mike Tyson and/or Riddick Bowe (if you were to listen to Tommy). All 3 of which would have been excellent fights as well as fights that Tommy could have won in all honesty, but at the very least he would have gone out on his shield which again the fans loved him for. Think about how Tommy would have done vs other contenders of his era, if he could take out Rudduck then why not Golota? What about Briggs? What about Tua? What about how he would have faired vs Holyfield? He could have had many many more big money fights and exciting fights.

[El Kabong]

So to add to the "what do/did you think of Tommy Morrison?" question...


How do you feel Tommy Morrison would have done against these fighters had he never gotten HIV, so POST 1996:
Ray Mercer II
Michael Moorer
Mike Tyson
Riddick Bowe
Andrew Golota
Evander Holyfield
David Tua
John Ruiz
Hasim Rahman
Michael Grant
Oliver McCall

And feel free to add more if you think of any

[J_Undisputed]

Call this a knee jerk reaction but its a just a gut feeling that the savage KO Mercer gave him would have changed him forever. I wont use the "R" word. He fought on where he could but I think he'd be haunted by that KO. Its not like a one shot, lights out, anyone could get caught kind of shot.
Its comes down to the type of fighter but I just got the feeling he was one of those fighters that once he was reminded of his own mortality, things would go south quick. Like when shane was cut for the first time in his career by vernon. He saw the blood, freaked and that was it. Shane still does something similar every time hes getting whooped... and keeps touching gloves and tries to keep it friendly with the thought it will save him from a more savage beating. I don't think Morrison would have done that but i think every time he got caught after that, he'd panic and stop breathing right and wear down fast. Not to mention how many opponents would just try to tee off on him mercer style for a highlight ko. just my opinion of course.

[beenKOed]

Call this a knee jerk reaction but its a just a gut feeling that the savage KO Mercer gave him would have changed him forever. I wont use the "R" word. He fought on where he could but I think he'd be haunted by that KO. Its not like a one shot, lights out, anyone could get caught kind of shot.
Its comes down to the type of fighter but I just got the feeling he was one of those fighters that once he was reminded of his own mortality, things would go south quick. Like when shane was cut for the first time in his career by vernon. He saw the blood, freaked and that was it. Shane still does something similar every time hes getting whooped... and keeps touching gloves and tries to keep it friendly with the thought it will save him from a more savage beating. I don't think Morrison would have done that but i think every time he got caught after that, he'd panic and stop breathing right and wear down fast. Not to mention how many opponents would just try to tee off on him mercer style for a highlight ko. just my opinion of course.

Sir, anyone who can look HIV, then full blown AIDS in the face, and then drop into total denial is not going to have even a little trouble getting around a devastating KO!
I liked Morrison, a lot, but he turned out to be brain damaged or a straight up idiot. It was hard to look at some of those terrible final pics of him.

[Beanflicker]

He was a very good HW, and had one of the best left hooks in HW history. The speed, power and accuracy he had in that left hook was tremendous.

[Master]

Remember reading Mercer saying that at the weigh in with Tommy he noticed the spots and acne on Morrison’s back. Mercer believed he was using steroids and that he would not be able to last in the latter half of the fight. Mercer was right.

So as well as HIV he was probably on steroids. When he died he looked totally different to the person that we all knew.

[Beanflicker]

So as well as HIV he was probably on steroids.

I think Morrison admitted that he used steroids during his boxing run.

[imp]

He looked like a zombie here itching and twitching..such a shame.

http://youtu.be/cDDy4QlTTkQ

[Master]

He looked like a zombie here itching and twitching..such a shame.

http://youtu.be/cDDy4QlTTkQ

Can not see it.

[Sleepwalker]

Morrison would have outworked a stamina lacking Bruno

[Master]

Morrison would have outworked a stamina lacking Bruno

Tommy was not the most consistant he beat Foreman and loses to Bent.

[CountryBoy]

Tommy was a good dude. He was a lil upset with me I believe in one of the last phone calls we had. He started talking about fighting a Klitschko and I basically told him that would be a extremely hard fight for him to be victorious at that time. If Tommy was in his prime, I could very well seen Tommy stopping either brother. But anyhow, Tommy to me was a friend, extremely underrated and his own worst enemy. The guy would smoke, drink and have sex with bimbos during countless training camps, But none the less he had enough natural talent, raw power and hand speed to beat a lot of top competitor's in arguably one of the greatest boxing eras of the Heavyweights.




Btw, Check out all of Tommy sons fights Trey Lippe Morrison ( 7-0-7 Kos ) and Kenzie Morrison ( 4-0-4 kos ) fights on youtube.


Tommy will be missed by many.

[imp]

Tommy was a good dude. He was a lil upset with me I believe in one of the last phone calls we had. He started talking about fighting a Klitschko and I basically told him that would be a extremely hard fight for him to be victorious at that time. If Tommy was in his prime, I could very well seen Tommy stopping either brother. But anyhow, Tommy to me was a friend, extremely underrated and his own worst enemy. The guy would smoke, drink and have sex with bimbos during countless training camps, But none the less he had enough natural talent, raw power and hand speed to beat a lot of top competitor's in arguably one of the greatest boxing eras of the Heavyweights.




Btw, Check out all of Tommy sons fights Trey Lippe Morrison ( 7-0-7 Kos ) and Kenzie Morrison ( 4-0-4 kos ) fights on youtube.


Tommy will be missed by many.

Did he ever confess to you and let you know the real truth like his mother did after he passed?

[Master]

I thought his mum never said that was HIV positive when he died?

[El Kabong]

my thoughts on the hypothetical matchups Tommy could have had if his career wasn't cut short.

Ray Mercer II - Given on when it occurred I'd give Tommy a chance of lasting the distance and even winning. Directly after beating Tommy up Ray lost a UD to Larry Holmes and Jesse Ferguson so IF Tommy stuck to pure boxing he had a chance, but I think unless he fought Ray in Ray's comeback in 1998 then Tommy would likely lose a decision or get stopped late.

Michael Moorer - The fight was scheduled for 1996 which was before Moorer lost the rematch to Holyfield and after Morrison just lost to Lennox Lewis. It would have been a fight to remain relevant in the division and because of such I think it would have been a war. Both fighters had mental weaknesses, Moorer always had to be properly motivated and Morrison always had to refrain from brawling. I think Moorer was looking for a way out of boxing around that time and Tommy was looking to get another shot at the belts so given that both fighters down in the fight Tommy lands big and stops MM in 7.

Mike Tyson - If Morrison got a shot rather than Bruno or Seldon he would have been more game, but I think Tyson eventually catches Tommy and stops him probably 5th or sooner as Tyson faded late.

Riddick Bowe - Simple, Bowe would get SLAUGHTERED in 1996 Golota was taking Riddick to school before he got DQ'd for being stupid. I think Tommy's power was well above Golota's and Golota was finding Bowe easily...late stoppage for Morrison 8th-9th round.

Andrew Golota - Andrew folded up vs punchers TKO/DQ/Golota quits round 3

Evander Holyfield - Much like Mercer too tough to KO the question would be if Morrison would last the distance or not, I think not as he always went out on his shield. Holyfield KO/TKO 8.

David Tua - Tough to call, it's either Tua early or Morrison with the UD

John Ruiz - Morrison by UD with several knockdowns. Ruiz couldn't handle punchers.

Hasim Rahman - This is a toss up fight. Rahman is hard to judge because at times he showed big power and a good workrate and other times he just was going through the motions.

Michael Grant - Morrison HUGE KO, spectacular highlight reel KO mid rounds probably coming off a knockdown/slip. Morrison KO 4-6. It would have been a Brock vs Lawrence style KO

Oliver McCall - Morrison UD, The Atomic Bull could take shots, but he didn't always have the Lennox Lewis destroying right hand in the mix all that often.