How good was Tommy Morrison?
How good was Tommy Morrison?
How do you guys rate the duke,and how do you think he would match up with todays big guys? 8)
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dempseyfire
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 5534
- Joined: 29 Oct 2003, 22:56
He had excellent offensive skills- excellent power, fast hands, good punch arsenal. But his defense was poor and while he was tough as nails, he did not take a very good punch. He also tired in the middle-late rounds. He would def. be a belt-holder today. I'd make him 50/50 against Byrd but I think he'd lose to Klitschko. Ruiz-Morrison would be interesting-I think Morrison had enough firepower and know how (he threw great hooks to the body) to knock him out early and not get in a wrestling match.
Of all those "White hope" types I thought Tommy Morrison was the best one since the 60s ..He was certainly better than Bobick or Cooneyor Mesi I think its unfair to lump him in with those guys as people inevtibly do.
Because Morrison had a lot more heart and skill than either one of those guys He was actually a real contender rather than an overrated foil.
Those guys all big punchers ran up impressive win streaks rolling stiffs but Bobick and Coooney then the first time they faced adversity they fell apart and thier careers were over..
Tommy Morrison was starched by Mercer in his first real test But then The Duke came back to have a number of Big wins AFTER that happened.
Which showed he had a lot of heart
His win over Big George Foreman showed Tommy had some real skills when properly motivated ..
I think it was his training habits more than lack of ability that kept this guy away from the title..
I
f he fought today he would probably be rated number 2
I think he'd have whipped the unispiring trio of Byrd and Ruiz and Toney pretty soundly
I see the style matchup in this favoring Vitali pretty stongly
I think it would be similar to the Lewis fight for Morrison
Because Morrison had a lot more heart and skill than either one of those guys He was actually a real contender rather than an overrated foil.
Those guys all big punchers ran up impressive win streaks rolling stiffs but Bobick and Coooney then the first time they faced adversity they fell apart and thier careers were over..
Tommy Morrison was starched by Mercer in his first real test But then The Duke came back to have a number of Big wins AFTER that happened.
Which showed he had a lot of heart
His win over Big George Foreman showed Tommy had some real skills when properly motivated ..
I think it was his training habits more than lack of ability that kept this guy away from the title..
I
f he fought today he would probably be rated number 2
I think he'd have whipped the unispiring trio of Byrd and Ruiz and Toney pretty soundly
I see the style matchup in this favoring Vitali pretty stongly
I think it would be similar to the Lewis fight for Morrison
I wouldn't say that Joe Mesi and esecially Gerry Conney "have no heart".
Gerry Cooney tried to take to it Larry Holmes for 13 rounds... Winning a few, while taking a tremendous beating.
And Joe Mesi did get up off the canvas 3 times to get his decision over Jirov.
And I certainly wouldn't say that Morrison hit harder than Cooney.
Gerry Cooney tried to take to it Larry Holmes for 13 rounds... Winning a few, while taking a tremendous beating.
And Joe Mesi did get up off the canvas 3 times to get his decision over Jirov.
And I certainly wouldn't say that Morrison hit harder than Cooney.
The Duke defintely had more heart than Cooney..
True Cooney fought gamely against Holmes ..
But that was the Highlight of his career..
Once Gerry lost that fight he lost interest in Boxing and his career was pretty much over ..
Tommy notched a number of solid wins after he lost to Mercer
And he only retired because he was forced to
He was much more resilliant fighter than Cooney
True Cooney fought gamely against Holmes ..
But that was the Highlight of his career..
Once Gerry lost that fight he lost interest in Boxing and his career was pretty much over ..
Tommy notched a number of solid wins after he lost to Mercer
And he only retired because he was forced to
He was much more resilliant fighter than Cooney
That may be true to a certain extent, but I always thought of Cooney as a manufactured fighter. A guy who was big and strong and atheletically gifted but did not really have the kick-ass mentality to be a top notch fighter. His nickname "Gentleman Gerry". was a little too appropriate. He really didn't care for beating prople up...Cooney was too nice of a guy to be champ.KOJOE90 wrote:To be fair to Cooney, I always felt 'The Great White Hope' tag really got to him mentaly.
Morrison never had that same pressure on him.
Tommy Morrison ,whatever his limitations , clearly loved to fight.
I agree with you there, Morrison was the more 'natural' fighter wether it be in toughman contests, amateur or Pro fights or drunken bar room brawls.zurdo wrote:That may be true to a certain extent, but I always thought of Cooney as a manufactured fighter. A guy who was big and strong and atheletically gifted but did not really have the kick-ass mentality to be a top notch fighter. His nickname "Gentleman Gerry". was a little too appropriate. He really didn't care for beating prople up...Cooney was too nice of a guy to be champ.KOJOE90 wrote:To be fair to Cooney, I always felt 'The Great White Hope' tag really got to him mentaly.
Morrison never had that same pressure on him.
Tommy Morrison ,whatever his limitations , clearly loved to fight.
Cooney although a mutch better fighter that the 'great white joke' tag was a brave fighter but I never felt he was a fighter to the core of his soul, if you get my drift.
Thats right Cooney Didn't really like to box..He fougt to please his family and to a lesser extent His fans. To his credit , the white hope hype was something that Cooney very was uncomfortable with..
Morrisons probalem was that he often thought that whamming drunks in 'neck bars substituted for real training..
Morrisons probalem was that he often thought that whamming drunks in 'neck bars substituted for real training..
Morrison would not be a belt holder for sure in any era.
Byrd would outbox him. Morrison would have to TKO him early, because Byrd was a WAY better boxer, and had WAY better stamina. ANd Morrison would not TKO Byrd early. Byrd is slippery. Check his fights with both Klitschkos, Tua, etc.
Ruiz vs. Morrison depends. Golota is a better boxer than Morrison and I think he beat Ruiz. Morrison hits harder than Golota, but if you thought Golota gassed and did not fight as well down the stretch then imagine Morrison.
Ruiz has beaten better opposition than Morrison has, and has achieved more in his career. Morrison was never considered the second best heavyweight, or had the wins Ruiz has had.
Vitaly would TKO Morrison.
Lets be honest with Morrison here. He was good, and a top ten guy, but he was nothing special. He would not be anything special if he fought today either.
Even his biggest win, a points decision over Foreman, was nothing that special. THough looking back, when you take into account all the times Morrison has crashed it seems like a miracle he lasted 12 rounds with a puncher like Foreman.
I mean Morrison was blown out in one round by Bentt! And dropped twice and given a draw against Puritty! And had been dropped something like 14 times in his career up until he fought Lewis (remember they counted all the the times in the prefight show. Well Lewis dropped him four more times!)
Tommy was okay, but no better than Cooney. Tommy would never go 13 with Holmes.
Byrd would outbox him. Morrison would have to TKO him early, because Byrd was a WAY better boxer, and had WAY better stamina. ANd Morrison would not TKO Byrd early. Byrd is slippery. Check his fights with both Klitschkos, Tua, etc.
Ruiz vs. Morrison depends. Golota is a better boxer than Morrison and I think he beat Ruiz. Morrison hits harder than Golota, but if you thought Golota gassed and did not fight as well down the stretch then imagine Morrison.
Ruiz has beaten better opposition than Morrison has, and has achieved more in his career. Morrison was never considered the second best heavyweight, or had the wins Ruiz has had.
Vitaly would TKO Morrison.
Lets be honest with Morrison here. He was good, and a top ten guy, but he was nothing special. He would not be anything special if he fought today either.
Even his biggest win, a points decision over Foreman, was nothing that special. THough looking back, when you take into account all the times Morrison has crashed it seems like a miracle he lasted 12 rounds with a puncher like Foreman.
I mean Morrison was blown out in one round by Bentt! And dropped twice and given a draw against Puritty! And had been dropped something like 14 times in his career up until he fought Lewis (remember they counted all the the times in the prefight show. Well Lewis dropped him four more times!)
Tommy was okay, but no better than Cooney. Tommy would never go 13 with Holmes.
What has Morrisson done to be considered better than Byrd or Ruiz or Vitaly?
Nothing.
WHat has he done to be considered their equal?
Ruiz fights as ugly as any one, but lets put all that aside and get right to it. Lets match wins. Morrison's win over Foreman was nice, and his TKO over an inactive out of shape Razor RUddock was a 'W', but Ruiz has beaten Holyfield, Oquendo, Golota, Rahman, and Johnson.
Byrd has Vitaly, Holyfield, Tua, McCline, a draw with Golota.
Morrison has said his best win was against Razor Ruddock. What does it tell you he claims that as his best win when Ruddock had fought only once in 2 and a half years, weighed a career high, and was all but forgotten by the boxing community.
Even his win over a 43 year old Foreman is good, but is not enough by itself to compare to the titlist of today.
Now look at the contenders of today...Rahman (Is the former World Champion, plenty more than Tommy ever did.), Toney (such a better boxer it is not even close.)
ANd I am not even going to dignify comparing Morrison with Vitaly.
What is with this Morrison bandwagon all of a sudden? I tell it like it is on the guy and all of sudden I am over-rating today's heavyweights.
Morrison has done very little in his career. What are you all basing this high praise on? Atleast Byrd and Ruiz are beating top contenders of their time when they are in their primes.
Nothing.
WHat has he done to be considered their equal?
Ruiz fights as ugly as any one, but lets put all that aside and get right to it. Lets match wins. Morrison's win over Foreman was nice, and his TKO over an inactive out of shape Razor RUddock was a 'W', but Ruiz has beaten Holyfield, Oquendo, Golota, Rahman, and Johnson.
Byrd has Vitaly, Holyfield, Tua, McCline, a draw with Golota.
Morrison has said his best win was against Razor Ruddock. What does it tell you he claims that as his best win when Ruddock had fought only once in 2 and a half years, weighed a career high, and was all but forgotten by the boxing community.
Even his win over a 43 year old Foreman is good, but is not enough by itself to compare to the titlist of today.
Now look at the contenders of today...Rahman (Is the former World Champion, plenty more than Tommy ever did.), Toney (such a better boxer it is not even close.)
ANd I am not even going to dignify comparing Morrison with Vitaly.
What is with this Morrison bandwagon all of a sudden? I tell it like it is on the guy and all of sudden I am over-rating today's heavyweights.
Morrison has done very little in his career. What are you all basing this high praise on? Atleast Byrd and Ruiz are beating top contenders of their time when they are in their primes.
re
I'm not even going to argue about the joke of heavyweights today, especially John Ruiz! Well, o-kay maybe I will! John Ruiz has had several gift decisions and has never been dominate, or anywhere close to it in any performance; Morrison would drop him just like Tua did! Chris Byrd would probably have beat Morrison several years ago, but ever since Byrd won the title he has not been the quick, elusive fighter that he used to be and he gets hit a hell of a lot more since winning the title and Morrison hit harder than any of the fighters that Byrd has defendeed against, so Morrison would have a very good chance of doing to Bryd what Ibeabuchi did mainly because he had faster hands than the fighters that Byrd has been facing and like I already said he certainly hit harder! Klitschko would probably knock Morrison out in the First Round because of his size and he hits harder than Ruiz and Byrd, not one punch material so if he got caught with a Morrison left hook it could just as easy be an early night Klitschko as well!
Again, I ask what fights Morrison proved all of this in? 
Did you guys see a different career unfold than I did?
PS Ruiz got a debatable decision with Golota. TOmmy got one with Ross Purity!!!!
Ruiz got blown out by David Tua. Tommy got blown out by Michael Bentt!!!!!
Come man. Tommy is not this fighter you have in your head. WHat fights are you basing all this on?
Did you guys see a different career unfold than I did?
PS Ruiz got a debatable decision with Golota. TOmmy got one with Ross Purity!!!!
Ruiz got blown out by David Tua. Tommy got blown out by Michael Bentt!!!!!
Come man. Tommy is not this fighter you have in your head. WHat fights are you basing all this on?
Well ok,having followed his career i can maybe shed a little light 6 pack...If you consider Morrisons early stages(prior to Mercer loss)He was all about power,yes the guys he faced were in there to make him look good,but he still got them out there pretty convincingly,his two biggest wins came over Former champ/contenders Pinklon Thomas and Quick Tillis.He destroyed them both in one round,they were past there best i admit but not many guys had blasted them out in a round each.After his loss to Mercer(a fight in which Mercer later admitted it was the hardest he had ever been hit)his form was good with a some quick and impressive wins against steady journeymen like Odum,Halstead,Quarry and then a war with hardpunching Joe Hipp.He prevailed with a busted hand and jaw...I would love to see Ruiz do that.A good win over Carl Williams and then Foreman.I could go on but I dont feel I have to.Morrison was limited,yes.He was basically a four round fighter but he had raw power and an exciting offensive,come forward style,something sadly lacking amongst todays lot...especially Ruiz and Byrd,I know who I would rather watch.
Apparently James 'Quick' Tillis now claims he took a 'dive' against Tommy Morrison. I don't believe his claim, but that's what I have heard. In my opinion Tillis was on the slide and just got caught by a powerfull shot by a younger, stronger and more determined fighter.mozzainoz wrote:Well ok,having followed his career i can maybe shed a little light 6 pack...If you consider Morrisons early stages(prior to Mercer loss)He was all about power,yes the guys he faced were in there to make him look good,but he still got them out there pretty convincingly,his two biggest wins came over Former champ/contenders Pinklon Thomas and Quick Tillis.He destroyed them both in one round,they were past there best i admit but not many guys had blasted them out in a round each.After his loss to Mercer(a fight in which Mercer later admitted it was the hardest he had ever been hit)his form was good with a some quick and impressive wins against steady journeymen like Odum,Halstead,Quarry and then a war with hardpunching Joe Hipp.He prevailed with a busted hand and jaw...I would love to see Ruiz do that.A good win over Carl Williams and then Foreman.I could go on but I dont feel I have to.Morrison was limited,yes.He was basically a four round fighter but he had raw power and an exciting offensive,come forward style,something sadly lacking amongst todays lot...especially Ruiz and Byrd,I know who I would rather watch.
You are not shedding light to me. I have followed his career, not as a fan, but I can tell you as a fan of the sport during Tommy's run. His whole run may I add, never was he given the accolades he is being given here.mozzainoz wrote:Well ok,having followed his career i can maybe shed a little light 6 pack...If you consider Morrisons early stages(prior to Mercer loss)He was all about power,yes the guys he faced were in there to make him look good,but he still got them out there pretty convincingly,his two biggest wins came over Former champ/contenders Pinklon Thomas and Quick Tillis.He destroyed them both in one round,they were past there best i admit but not many guys had blasted them out in a round each.After his loss to Mercer(a fight in which Mercer later admitted it was the hardest he had ever been hit)his form was good with a some quick and impressive wins against steady journeymen like Odum,Halstead,Quarry and then a war with hardpunching Joe Hipp.He prevailed with a busted hand and jaw...I would love to see Ruiz do that.A good win over Carl Williams and then Foreman.I could go on but I dont feel I have to.Morrison was limited,yes.He was basically a four round fighter but he had raw power and an exciting offensive,come forward style,something sadly lacking amongst todays lot...especially Ruiz and Byrd,I know who I would rather watch.
Come on, wins over guys like Odum, Halstead, Quarry and Hipp have you impressed? Your standards must be pretty low. Pinklon Thomas and Quick Tillis were washed up. Thomas quit on his stool if I am not mistaken. BUt he was done long before the fight. A heroin user who showed up for a pay day. Tillis was a journey man by that time too. He ended up with double digit losses. Hardly the highlights you make those fights out to be.
Tommy's war with a used up Carl Williams doesn't turn heads. That was a see-saw fight with a guy who would never win the big one and was a clear step below his prime at that.
ANd you say Ruiz could not prevail with a busted hand and jaw? How about him getting off the canvas against Golota twice and fighting on with no trainer in his corner in a fight he was loosing to turn it around. Sure I don't like Ruiz, but acting like Tommy was above him silly.
Then saying he has a win over Williams and Foreman and that you could go on but you don't think you have to...
!Yeah, sure, dude beat a string of "solid journeymen" that you listed, and then a used up Carl Williams and George Foreman, and you think you have more than said enough!
If that is your best arguement than we need not go further. I stated he did not do anything special, and you just underlined that.
I can only conclude you must be the president of the Tommy Morrison fan club.
BTW Don't tell me about Tommy as if you are "shedding light", the guy is not exactly an unkown.
6 pack makes some good points but I think it was actually an advantage for Ruiz to get that idiot Norman Stone thrown out of his corner..
It's no suprise that he started winning after that...
And besides Golata is one of the biggest choke artists in Boxing History ..
Leave it to Andy Golata to find a new way to lose the big one..
Tommy Morrison would havre kicked Golata's ass 10 ways to Sunday
It's no suprise that he started winning after that...
And besides Golata is one of the biggest choke artists in Boxing History ..
Leave it to Andy Golata to find a new way to lose the big one..
Tommy Morrison would havre kicked Golata's ass 10 ways to Sunday
OK 6 Pack,first of all,I am not trying to sell you Morrisons career,I know he had limitations,but the original post was how good was he,and could he have held a belt today.You seem to be the only guy who thinks he wouldn't.What I dont understand is why you have made comparisons to John Ruiz,are you in HIS fan club,again you are going it alone there.Morrison would have spanked Ruiz and half the other guys out there today,this post proves that others also think so,You don't have to like Morrison or anything he did in his career but to say guys like Ruiz are Morrisons equal is ridiculous,Sure Ruiz has probably achieved more,he is a legitimate belt holder after all,but look at the guy in his last fight,and then take a look at any of Tommy's fights,including his losses.I rest my case. 
Re: How good was Tommy Morrison?
If he had to be rated on "guts" he'd be at the top. I watched his bout with Joe Hipp on ABC. His jaw was broken and his hand was too. Yet he came back to stop Hipp late in a fight he was losing. What a war!mozzainoz wrote:How do you guys rate the duke,and how do you think he would match up with todays big guys? 8)
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Old bones Ian
- Heavyweight
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