Tommy Morrison vs David Tua

[DrDuke]

Battle of the arguably 2 best left hooks of the 90s.

Prime vs Prime,

what means Morrison of 92-93 (after-Mercer period up to Foreman-fight) against Tua of the late 90s including 2000 (up to Lewis-fight).

Who would you pick to win and why?

[Kalan]

David Tua.... Cuz Morrison had no defense and no chin.

Tua would do a Michael Moorer / John Ruiz style job on Morrison and rip him out by KO in 20 seconds.

Now -- just to be contrary -- you'll have BuzzBox coming on here saying "I think Morrison would box Tua like he did Foreman... He would keep him off and win a narrow decision" .... Or posters who have another argument on that order.

But that wouldn't happen.... Why???

Cuz Tua would fearlessly step in and throw -- something a 40-something Foreman could NOT do... Remember Foreman's fight with Crawford Grimsley??? .... Pundits predicted "Foreman by quick KO"... But George couldn't step to Grimsely... In his next fight Crawford Grimsley lasted a total of 2 seconds---plus the time it took him to hit the floor... What was the difference??? Grimsley fought a guy (Jimmy Thunder) who stepped right to him and threw hard... If you walked into Foreman he'd kill you.

[gilgamesh]

I could Tommy outboxing him for a time early in the bout, but I can't see him avoiding Tua's bombs for all 12 rounds. Somewhere along the way Tua detonates a bomb on that chin and finishes Tommy off.

[SenorPipino]

Morrison had too much speed for Tua.

Underrated boxing skills.

The Duke's mindset would be to outgoing Tua, not stop him.

Of course Tua would always pose a threat to Morrison because of his dangerous hook.

But a more cautious than usual Morrison would play it safe for 10 or 12 rounds and simply pile up the points. Much like he did with Foreman.

Morrison wins a comfortable decision.

[DrDuke]

Morrison was obviously a better boxer. Yes, he also had a chin issues, what could have given Tua chances to end everything with one punch. However, Morrison had an ability to rationally avoid danger. So, I favour Morrison, Tommy would have taken clear decision.

[gilgamesh]

Morrison had too much speed for Tua.

Underrated boxing skills.

The Duke's mindset would be to outgoing Tua, not stop him.

Of course Tua would always pose a threat to Morrison because of his dangerous hook.

But a more cautious than usual Morrison would play it safe for 10 or 12 rounds and simply pile up the points. Much like he did with Foreman.

Morrison wins a comfortable decision.

Tua would've been a little quicker on his feet than the older Foreman I suspect. Obviously Tua wasn't a speed demon by any means, but I figure he'd have been able to move around the ring, and rush in on guys quicker than Foreman would've been capable of by that point. Not saying that your scenario isn't plausible, but I think Tua would've had a better chance of landing the bomb on Morrison than Foreman did.

[Kalan]

Right.... And Morrison's "boxing skills???" ..... Tell that to Michael Bentt who was the WORST Heavyweight Champion EVER!!!

Bentt was damned near KILLED by Herbie Hide.... Hide was a real Heavyweight Contender, even if he lacked a chin... When the fight with Hide was signed Bentt's fate was sealed... Bentt was getting knocked out - no if's, and's, or but's.

How did Morrison get to choose Bentt as a title challenger??? ... That was a strange one...

But the fact that Bentt scored a 1st round KO over Morrison??? ... NOT so strange.

[DrDuke]

Right.... And Morrison's "boxing skills???" ..... Tell that to Michael Bentt who was the WORST Heavyweight Champion EVER!!!

Bentt was damned near KILLED by Herbie Hide.... Hide was a real Heavyweight Contender, even if he lacked a chin... When the fight with Hide was signed Bentt's fate was sealed... Bentt was getting knocked out - no if's, and's, or but's.

How did Morrison get to choose Bentt as a title challenger??? ... That was a strange one...

But the fact that Bentt scored a 1st round KO over Morrison??? ... NOT so strange.

Morrison didn't train for Bentt and was partying a day before the fight. He had underestimated Bentt. It's like Lewis-Rahman.

[Kalan]

Maybe they had a birthday party for a friend and Tommy had a piece of cake.... That's not like staying out until 4AM and screwing some skank... Morrison trained hard for Bentt because it's still a Heavyweight Championship Fight you gotta win.

Tommy was ready... He just couldn't defend himself... He wasn't ready to do a rematch... They didn't make Bentt an offer.

And Bentt was no Rahman... Come on... It's not super bad if you lose to Rahman -- everyone knew who Rahman was.

[DrDuke]

Maybe they had a birthday party for a friend and Tommy had a piece of cake.... That's not like staying out until 4AM and screwing some skank... Morrison trained hard for Bentt because it's still a Heavyweight Championship Fight you gotta win.

Tommy was ready... He just couldn't defend himself... He wasn't ready to do a rematch... They didn't make Bentt an offer.

His former trainers say, he didn't train hard and wasn't ready. I guess, they know better. And why the hell there should have been a rematch? That fight was a warm-up before Lewis. The bigger fights had still been on the target, not the journeyman, who had luckily won.

And Bentt was no Rahman... Come on... It's not super bad if you lose to Rahman -- everyone knew who Rahman was.

I'm not comparing Bentt and Rahman, I'm comparing 2 cases, where the better boxer has lost due to lack of dedication.

[Kalan]

Morrison's best win against a prime fighter was Donavan Ruddock -- and he was down and hurt in that one... Ruddock hadn't fought in a year and a half and had 1 previous fight in almost 3 years... That's why he was chosen.

In all of his losses Morrison was stopped... I also thought he lost the "draw" to Ross Puritty whose ring record was 8-8 at the time.... Puritty had Morrison down twice and should have gotten the decision.

My view of Morrison is that he had 2 left feet... His stance and footwork were really bad... His defense was full of holes... He was very carefully matched unless there was a money fight... That's the reason he was fighting Michael Bentt in the first place... A legitimate Title Challenger would have cleaned Tommy up so they came up with Bentt.

Tommy was slow, clumsy, hittable, and thoroughly lacking in top level skills... He had no jab or right hand counter that could tag a top fighter and was very cloddish on his feet... He beat a lot of guys who were devoid of skills by dint of size, strength, and punching power... When he was matched with Lewis??? Come on... He didn't have a chance in Hell of beating a guy of that caliber... He was honest about it... "I'm not going to beat him by boxing."

[DrDuke]

Morrison's best win against a prime fighter was Donavan Ruddock -- and he was down and hurt in that one... Ruddock hadn't fought in a year and a half and had 1 previous fight in almost 3 years... That's why he was chosen.

In all of his losses Morrison was stopped... I also thought he lost the "draw" to Ross Puritty whose ring record was 8-8 at the time.... Puritty had Morrison down twice and should have gotten the decision.

My view of Morrison is that he had 2 left feet... His stance and footwork were really bad... His defense was full of holes... He was very carefully matched unless there was a money fight... That's the reason he was fighting Michael Bentt in the first place... A legitimate Title Challenger would have cleaned Tommy up so they came up with Bentt.

Tommy was slow, clumsy, hittable, and thoroughly lacking in top level skills... He had no jab or right hand counter that could tag a top fighter and was very cloddish on his feet... He beat a lot of guys who were devoid of skills by dint of size, strength, and punching power... When he was matched with Lewis??? Come on... He didn't have a chance in Hell of beating a guy of that caliber... He was honest about it... "I'm not going to beat him by boxing."

[SenorPipino]

No one should judge a boxer's value on one fight--whether it was a great night or a bad one.

It's the totality of his career that matters.

Judge Morrison over the course of what he did in his 8 year, 52 fight career.

Tua was slapped around by Byrd and Barrett. If you go strictly by those performances, he doesn't belong in the ring with a lot of fighters, much less Morrison.

The Bentt fight, for whatever reason, was an aberration.

Otherwise, his only other defeats were to respected fighters Lewis and Mercer.

I don't think the Bentt debacle defines Morrison's talents in any way.

Just like losing to a Barrett or Helenius should define Tua.

[Kalan]

Bentt was one fight -- but I'm judging Morrison on the Bentt, Mercer, and Lewis fights and his whole body of work.

I'm a tough critic, but I don't like to see top fighters and Title Challengers with major flaws... I was a very hard critic of Wladimir Klitschko until he got with Emanuel Steward... I thought it was too late for him to rework his whole game and he proved me wrong... Morrison had size, strength, and punching power.... Anything he achieved is largely attributable to those assets...

When Tua lost to Barrett he was way gone... He wasn't trying very hard... You judge a fighter in his prime and forward.... but not if he completely falls off the rails and doesn't even seem to care about his career anymore.... Nobody really judges Jimmy Young by a ton of losses that he had when he didn't GAF about the sport anymore... He was brilliant vs Foreman.

[gregor]

Morrison had too much speed for Tua.

Actually, almost every opponent had "too much speed and boxing skills" for Tua. Most of them on short distance though

Tua could be one dimensional and slow, still the only guys who decisioned him (when around prime) were:
- Lewis: obviously levels above Morrison
- Ike: well, let's just guess what happens if Morrison goes on exchanges like Ike
- Byrd: superb speed, great defence and good chin to survive ocassional punch that landed.

Morrison has neither great defence (Lewis, Byrd), nor great chin (Ike, Byrd). I can see him winning a couple of rounds like majority of top guys, but surviving whole distance is unlikely.

[Kalan]

Good analysis...

[oogiebe]

Battle of the arguably 2 best left hooks of the 90s.

Prime vs Prime,

what means Morrison of 92-93 (after-Mercer period up to Foreman-fight) against Tua of the late 90s including 2000 (up to Lewis-fight).

Who would you pick to win and why?

Hardly a comparison...Tua would've eaten Morrison for lunch. If nothing else, Tua would've outlasted him...my opinion, Tua inside of four.