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Tommy Morrison (born January 2, 1969, Jay, Oklahoma) is a former world heavyweight boxing champion. Dubbed "The Duke", he is the grandnephew of Hollywood star John Wayne. Morrison has also garnered media coverage for his troubled life outside the boxing ring.

Morrison started his professional boxing career on November 10, 1988 with a first round knockout of William Muhammad in New York City. Twenty days later, he scored another first round knockout win.

In 1989, Morrison had 19 wins, 15 by knockout. Among the fighters beaten were former Mike Tyson opponents Lorenzo Boyd , Dave Jaco and Lorenzo Canady , as well as former George Foreman opponents Steve Zouski and Ken Lakusta .

His biggest breakthrough, however, came in 1989, when Sylvester Stallone was a spectator at one of Morrison's bouts and realised that Morrison would be ideal for Rocky VRocky V is the last and probably least known of the Rocky sequels. Released on November 16, 1990, Rocky V stars Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Stallone's real life son Sage Stallone and real life boxer Tommy Morrison (who, in 1993 beat George Foreman fo. Stallone arranged for Morrison to have a script reading, and was cast as Tommy Gunn in the movie. While Morrison did win two fights in 1990, it was when Rocky V was released in DecemberDecember is the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 31 days. From the Latin decem for " ten" (it was originally the tenth month of the year, before January and February were inserted). The winter solstice falls in December. of that year that he gained mainstream popularity.

In 19911991 like 2002, is a palindromic year. It also has the same calendar as 2002, including Easter on March 31. It is a common year starting on Tuesday. Events January January 2 Sharon Pratt Dixon is sworn in as mayor of Washington, DC becoming the first blac, Morrison, already the receiver of much televisionSee TV (disambiguation) for other uses and Television (band) for the rock band Television is a telecommunication system for broadcasting and receiving moving pictures and sound over a distance. The term has come to refer to all the aspects of television p exposure, won four fights, against opponents the calibre of former Larry HolmesLarry Holmes (born November 3, 1949), former world Heavyweight champion who won his first 48 professional fights, threatening to break Rocky Marciano's record of the most fights undefeated for a world champion (49-0). Holmes was born in Cuthbert, Georgia world title challenger and Tyson opponent James Quick TillisJames Tillis is an American prizefigther who was nicknamed "Quick". He was also known as The Fighting Cowboy. Tillis was one of only a handful of men who lasted the distance in a fight against Mike Tyson. Tillis fought Tyson in 1986 and lost a ten round d, and former world champion Pinklon ThomasPinklon Thomas is a former boxer whose trademark pink boxing trunks and a left jab were key distinguishing characteristics. A native of Pontiac, Michigan who also lived on or near military bases in South Carolina and Washington state, Thomas eventually se. He was then given a crack at becoming world Heavyweight champion by WBO champ Ray Mercer in a Pay Per View card held on October 18 1991. Morrison lost what turned out to be a highlight film knockout in round five.

Morrison had six wins in 1992, including one over former Riddick Bowe opponent Art Tucker , and one over future world title challenger Joe Hipp , who would later become the first Native American to challenge for the world Heavyweight title. After two wins in 1993, including one over two time former world title challenger Carl Williams , Morrison found himself fighting for the world championship again, this time against Foreman, On June 7. Morrison surprised many critics by outpointing Foreman over 12 rounds, winning the world title. Almost immediately, talks of a fight with WBC world champion Lennox Lewis began, although it would not have been a unification bout, because the WBC has always refused to have recognised the WBO.

Talks of a Morrison-Lewis fight, however, momentarily came to a stop because Morrison was himself upset in his first defense by virtually unknown Michael Bentt , being knocked out in round one in front of a live HBO Boxing audience.

He recovered by winning three bouts in a row in 1994, but then, he drew in his last fight of the year, against another virtual unknown, Ross Puritty .

He won three fights in 1995 before meeting Razor Ruddock for the IBC Heavyweight Championship. This fight was named fight of the year by various magazines, as Morrison dropped Ruddock several times, but had to climb off the canvas in round one himself before scoring a sixth round knockout win.

The fight with Lewis, who had also lost his world championship, finally came off after the fight against Ruddock. Lewis stopped Morrison in six rounds.

A few days before his next fight, to be shown on Showtime, Morrison had a mandatory HIV test performed by the Nevada state athletic commission. It was revealed during Showtime's telecast of the boxing undercard, that Morrison was on a flight home to Oklahoma City, following the revelation that the HIV test proved positive, automatically retiring him from boxing as a competitor.

Later in 1996, Morrison announced that he wished to make a comeback with one more bout, the proceeds of which would go to benefit his newly created KnockOut Aids Foundation. Morrison won what would turn out to be his final fight, a first round knockout of Marcus Rhode in Tokyo. Morrison finished his boxing career with a record of 46 wins, 3 losses, 1 draw, with 40 of his wins by knockout.

Morrison spent 14 months in prison after retiring on drug and weapons charges. On September 9, 2003, Morrison's wife Dawn gave birth to a boy, Tristin Duke Morrison. Morrison is currently seeking a return to acting, and doesn't rule out the possibility of fighting again. He is currently penning his autobiography and has recently signed a deal that would see a movie produced on his life.


Morrison, Tommy Morrison, Tommy



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