BoxRec

Yeah, sorry, understood.

The lead singer of the 60s band Free has had full blown AIDs for many years now, still alive although naturally not the picture of health. A grim illness.

bollox wrote:It's odd reading he was only 44 as he'd been around for what seemed forever

What alot of people fail to remember is that this was a guy, who in his teens, was already becoming a national commodity. I think he was only 20-0 and 20 years old when he landed the Rocky movie, and when his career finally wrapped he was not yet thirty years old. He was diagnosed 17 years ago, and he was 44 years old at death. He was only 27 years old when he fought Lewis & Rhodes.

It seems like he was around forever, but it's not true. I know people criticise and say Cooney was pushed to the top too soon, but Morrison beat him in spades in that category. For all the criticisms on Morrison, he did exceptionally better than a young man of his years ought to of done.

HomicideHenry wrote:

bollox wrote:It's odd reading he was only 44 as he'd been around for what seemed forever

What alot of people fail to remember is that this was a guy, who in his teens, was already becoming a national commodity. I think he was only 20-0 and 20 years old when he landed the Rocky movie, and when his career finally wrapped he was not yet thirty years old. He was diagnosed 17 years ago, and he was 44 years old at death. He was only 27 years old when he fought Lewis & Rhodes.

It seems like he was around forever, but it's not true. I know people criticise and say Cooney was pushed to the top too soon, but Morrison beat him in spades in that category. For all the criticisms on Morrison, he did exceptionally better than a young man of his years ought to of done.

I wholeheartedly agree with this...
He brought a lot of entertainment value to the game...and that's what keeps it alive....

I remember watching him before the Rocky movie. He wasn't as built & sort of baby faced. There were a group of young heavys coming up. Bowe, Mercer, Seldon & Tommy. I actually thought Seldon would be the best. Tommy was getting a good push being on ESPN. There was "The Duke" thing too. He delivered what was expected. Bone crunching ko's. Always giving polite post fight interviews saying what "we" need to work on. Then it was announced he'd be in the movie. When I saw him next he had transformed his physique. Stallone was in the corner & they were shooting for the movie. I can't imagine how awkward that must have been! Tommy went the distance though. He crushed Tillis in 1. He had great power, good speed & put his punches together well. The flaws would all come out later. The bad stamina & the weak chin. The Mercer fight was brutal! By that time, Tommy was such a golden boy I kind of rooted against him. He went forward though. No idea how he beat Foreman!

Morrison was a respectable fighter. Always with a punchers chance against anyone. I'm sad to hear of his passing because I can't believe how much time has passed! Seems like yesterday. I was a big boxing fan back then & once watched an a fight over the super bowl! I saw an interview with Tommy during his comeback & although he looked ok his speech was different. Not really slurred but like something was wrong with his teeth? I don't know. Just a sad ending.

I hope he's at peace.

wvboxer wrote:I remember watching him before the Rocky movie. He wasn't as built & sort of baby faced. There were a group of young heavys coming up. Bowe, Mercer, Seldon & Tommy. I actually thought Seldon would be the best. Tommy was getting a good push being on ESPN. There was "The Duke" thing too. He delivered what was expected. Bone crunching ko's. Always giving polite post fight interviews saying what "we" need to work on. Then it was announced he'd be in the movie. When I saw him next he had transformed his physique. Stallone was in the corner & they were shooting for the movie. I can't imagine how awkward that must have been! Tommy went the distance though. He crushed Tillis in 1. He had great power, good speed & put his punches together well. The flaws would all come out later. The bad stamina & the weak chin. The Mercer fight was brutal! By that time, Tommy was such a golden boy I kind of rooted against him. He went forward though. No idea how he beat Foreman!

Morrison was a respectable fighter. Always with a punchers chance against anyone. I'm sad to hear of his passing because I can't believe how much time has passed! Seems like yesterday. I was a big boxing fan back then & once watched an a fight over the super bowl! I saw an interview with Tommy during his comeback & although he looked ok his speech was different. Not really slurred but like something was wrong with his teeth? I don't know. Just a sad ending.

I hope he's at peace.

Because he actually boxed for once in his life, which wasn't all that difficult to do against a man in his 40's who was almost 300 pounds. Only a complete moron would have went in their trying to fight toe to toe with Foreman---- which was Moorer's mistake, by getting too cocky.

You're right. He did box well in that fight. I just can't believe a guy with his chin avoided Foreman so well. George was a statue I admit.

wvboxer wrote:You're right. He did box well in that fight. I just can't believe a guy with his chin avoided Foreman so well. George was a statue I admit.

Like the commentators said in the fight, Foreman just couldnt get the punches off. He would have Morrison in the corner, wait like ten seconds, never throw much of anything of consequence and Morrison would escape. Lateral movement, constant jabbing, etc. will always beat a guy like Foreman even if he was twenty years younger. And---- I think the chin issue is overblown---- never forget that Morrison fought nine rounds with a broken jaw against Joe Hipp and never went down. Also never forget he rose off the canvas in round one against Ruddock to knock him out further down the stretch. He may not of had a chin like Foreman, Frazier, Marciano, etc. but it was better than people give him credit for.

I believe the post mortem did not show AIDS...

evrenb wrote:I believe the post mortem did not show AIDS...

What an interesting factoid. Now back to the crayons!

Rest in peace Tommy Morrison, a true cahampion of boxing and a boxing champion. You gave us all many, many entertaining and exciting fights.

polecateddy wrote:

evrenb wrote:I believe the post mortem did not show AIDS...

What an interesting factoid. Now back to the crayons!

Yeah when you give them back