BoxRec

I remember an interview on a boxing show where Tommy Morrison was asked about the claim in James"Quick"Tillis autobiography
published about 10 years ago,were Tillis claimed
that he threw the fight with Tommy Morrison.
Here is the link to youtube.You be the judge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FeniQ2aEvQ

No way, that first KD was from nowhere and was totally legit. Now...did James decide he didnt' want too much more of that after gettin whacked around a while? Maybe, but he sure didn't go in to that fight with intentions to lose. IMHO. The last KD could be called suspect I suppose, but he was probably very glad it was over.

I knew "Quick". Fought on the same card with him a couple times. Even trained together. I cant see him tanking one.It doesnt look like he threw this one either.
It was at the end of his career and Morrison could bang. He was taken out of there and thats where its at.

I never thought it looked sus at all.

Some times pride kicks in and people say things
to save face.

Tillis was a solid fighter that was some years past
his best days against a young hard hitting up and
comer..who we all know for all his faults had a lot
of power.

Here is the link to his published autobiography.At one time I was going to purchase a copy,until I read the customer reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Thinkin-Big-Tilli ... 550224301/

he didnt throw the fight. Tillis just had a habit after he lost all those fights on the trot in 1987 fo just taking matches at short notice,unprepared not training, basically making it look competitive for a few rounds and than just either going the distance or looking for a way to take a few shots and have the ref step in and he could take the payday. he did it with bruno just turned his back and he did it with morrison. he didnt give a shitt by that time

Brutu wrote:Here is the link to his published autobiography.At one time I was going to purchase a copy,until I read the customer reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Thinkin-Big-Tilli ... 550224301/

Actually I just purchased a (used)copy from amazon.com,to read for myself were Tillis alegedly wrote that ,so I will refrain from further comments until I do read it for myself,other then to say IMOP if Tillis did throw that fight,
would nOt it have been really dangerous for him just to let a power puncher like Morrison,punch him in the head, not once but several times with clean shots just to make it look authentic?

Here is James Tillis in 1988.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFrjI0hSQn8

Brutu wrote:Here is the link to his published autobiography.At one time I was going to purchase a copy,until I read the customer reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Thinkin-Big-Tilli ... 550224301/

It's an entertaining read, I would recommend it. Certainly worth reading once, plenty of laughs in it too, especially his time spent with Archie Moore and his indept account of sharing a ring with Mike Tyson.

mugabi wrote:he didnt throw the fight. Tillis just had a habit after he lost all those fights on the trot in 1987 fo just taking matches at short notice,unprepared not training, basically making it look competitive for a few rounds and than just either going the distance or looking for a way to take a few shots and have the ref step in and he could take the payday. he did it with bruno just turned his back and he did it with morrison. he didnt give a shitt by that time

You're a harsh judge mate - his face was absolutely cut to shreds in the 5th rd versus Bruno - even Mike Tyson at ringside commentating gasped at the punches & damage inflicted.

Brutu wrote:Here is the link to his published autobiography.At one time I was going to purchase a copy,until I read the customer reviews.

http://www.amazon.com/Thinkin-Big-Tilli ... 550224301/

I got my copy in the mail the other day.
(used, but looks almost new like its never been read)
Just browsed through it,I thought it would be kind of unreadable but actually the book looks interesting from what parts I did read so far.
It is softbound,and has a photo section.

Basically Quick Tillis writes in his book that he decided at the last minute(only he knew)not to go a full 10 rounds and to allow
Tommy Morrison to knock him out in the first round,
just to get back at his(new)managers,promoters and get out of the contract because he felt that that they were withholding money due to him.
(even though apparently this was only the second fight under their management)

Yeah it looks like he took a dive...straight to the canvas when that left hook hit him! Tommy owned him

Tillis also claimed in his autobiography,that in his fight with Mike Tyson,just before the decision was announced,
Mike Tyson told him"You beat me,You beat me",but only loud enough that Tillis could hear him.
(page 98)

bump

Morrison vrs Tillis

Check out 3:07 of the clip.
That is the Jack Johnson pose ,Havana April 1915.
Except this fight was indoors so he couldn't really blame that the Sun was in his eyes,and
of course he got back up to continue the fight.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FeniQ2aEvQ

The knockout looks legit to me. The last knockdown maybe not but he looks to still be on queer street from the first two. He took some serious shots in there and I gotta assume if he was planning on taking a dive, he would've done so after the first knockdown...or certainly the 2nd one.

BoxBuzz wrote:No way, that first KD was from nowhere and was totally legit. Now...did James decide he didnt' want too much more of that after gettin whacked around a while? Maybe, but he sure didn't go in to that fight with intentions to lose. IMHO. The last KD could be called suspect I suppose, but he was probably very glad it was over.

x2

punchoutsb wrote:Yeah it looks like he took a dive...straight to the canvas when that left hook hit him! Tommy owned him

Brutu wrote:Tillis also claimed in his autobiography,that in his fight with Mike Tyson,just before the decision was announced,
Mike Tyson told him"You beat me,You beat me",but only loud enough that Tillis could hear him.
(page 98)

How convenient.

gilgamesh wrote:The knockout looks legit to me. The last knockdown maybe not but he looks to still be on queer street from the first two. He took some serious shots in there and I gotta assume if he was planning on taking a dive, he would've done so after the first knockdown...or certainly the 2nd one.

Too logical! Conspiracy theorists don't like that.:)

Rover wrote:

gilgamesh wrote:The knockout looks legit to me. The last knockdown maybe not but he looks to still be on queer street from the first two. He took some serious shots in there and I gotta assume if he was planning on taking a dive, he would've done so after the first knockdown...or certainly the 2nd one.

Too logical! Conspiracy theorists don't like that.:)

Facts are facts

gilgamesh wrote:

Rover wrote:

gilgamesh wrote:The knockout looks legit to me. The last knockdown maybe not but he looks to still be on queer street from the first two. He took some serious shots in there and I gotta assume if he was planning on taking a dive, he would've done so after the first knockdown...or certainly the 2nd one.

Too logical! Conspiracy theorists don't like that.:)

Facts are facts

I know that, but conspiracy theorists don't like them.

If you were going to take a dive why not feign a Berbick "wobble legs" dance after the first KD and save yourself all of that additional punishment he took.

Tillis didn't dive but clearly his heart was not in the game at this point, and in boxing that can be a major difference between being an opponent and being a contender.

dempseyfire wrote:If you were going to take a dive why not feign a Berbick "wobble legs" dance after the first KD and save yourself all of that additional punishment he took.

Tillis didn't dive but clearly his heart was not in the game at this point, and in boxing that can be a major difference between being an opponent and being a contender.

i have to agree.if you are planning a dive
and your opponent is a heavy hitter...why not stay down the first time??

its only logical