Former Agent say Morrison was never HIV free

[Lee]

This story confirms what a lot of us thought about Morrison's last fight being cancelled.

Ex-agent: Morrison HIV positive
Norm Frauenheim
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 8, 2007 05:29 PM

Tommy Morrison's former agent said Friday that the ex-heavyweight champion was positive for the HIV virus in mandatory blood tests for a boxing license.

"Tommy has tested positive for the HIV antibodies and he always has,'' said Randy Lang, who said he split with Morrison on Feb. 25 because the tests had been misrepresented by the boxer and his promoter, Peter McKinn.

Morrison is scheduled to make his mixed martial arts debut Saturday on a McKinn-promoted card in Camp Verde at Cliff Castle Casino, which is outside the Arizona State Boxing Commission's jurisdiction.

Morrison said again Thursday that he has never tested positive and that the initial diagnosis in 1996 before a scheduled bout in Las Vegas was a false-positive.

"All the blood tests came from Randy Lang and, as far as I saw on the paperwork sent by Lang, the results were zero-negative,'' McKinn said.

Lang said the evidence of HIV in various tests was so low that the virus could not be transmitted in the ring if both fighters were injured and exchanged blood in a collision.

"That has always been my position, and it's the appropriate one,'' Lang said.

Lang, of Glendale, witnessed tests in Phoenix in January that were reported to be negative. The tests, witnessed also by McKinn and John Montano or the Arizona State Boxing Commission, were supposed to have been the basis for a West Virginia license that allowed Morrison to fight and beat John Castle. However, Lang alleges that either the documentation was fraudulent or that the blood samples were switched.

In late April, Morrison was scheduled for a bout in Houston. He underwent blood tests, but the paper was reported to have never arrived in time for Texas authorities to grant him a license. The tests were reported to be negative.

Morrison and McKinn said that Lang has misrepresented himself. McKinn said he is not a licensed attorney. Lang said Friday that he graduated form the American College of Law, now located in Anaheim, Calif.

[btown32]

My question is still - why would anybody even consider stepping in a boxing ring, even worse, a MMA ring with a guy who "might" be HIV-positive? Is risking your life to fight a stiff worth it? Morrison's opponents aren't even making that much money and it really can't do anything to advance someone's fighting career. And why would any governing body sanction a fight involving somebody like that? Just stupid.

[Erik W.]

Originally Posted by btown32

And why would any governing body sanction a fight involving somebody like that?

They aren't. His "MMA fight" (it's more of a sideshow than a legimate match) is unsanctioned, being held outside of ASAC's jurisdiction.

[Jim_Kidd]

Originally Posted by btown32

My question is still - why would anybody even consider stepping in a boxing ring, even worse, a MMA ring with a guy who "might" be HIV-positive? Is risking your life to fight a stiff worth it? Morrison's opponents aren't even making that much money and it really can't do anything to advance someone's fighting career. And why would any governing body sanction a fight involving somebody like that? Just stupid.

For the opponent, you'd have to imagine that it would be some sort of distraction to say the least.

If someone needs the money bad enough, though, they'd step into the ring with him.

Tommy himself must really need to money to even consider fighting again.

[Mike D]

Originally Posted by Erik W.

They aren't. His "MMA fight" (it's more of a sideshow than a legimate match) is unsanctioned, being held outside of ASAC's jurisdiction.

Yeah, it's such a side show that he hasn't worked on anything but boxing for this match.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Erik W.

They aren't. His "MMA fight" (it's more of a sideshow than a legimate match) is unsanctioned, being held outside of ASAC's jurisdiction.

Eriks correct, since it is being held at a Casion, which is under Native American control, there is nothing that can be done to stop him.

[Romdawg88]

Originally Posted by Mike D

Yeah, it's such a side show that he hasn't worked on anything but boxing for this match.

Well, he won't have to work on anything else since the rules don't allow for any groundfighting and the guy he's fighting is just a brawler. It seems Stover, Morrison's opponent, has decided to go through with the match because no one can prove Morrison does have HIV. God, I hope he's right and Morrison is clean.

[Erik W.]

Originally Posted by Romdawg88

Well, he won't have to work on anything else since the rules don't allow for any groundfighting

So it's boxing with 4 oz gloves, and not MMA at all.

Of course, all the news outlets will call it MMA, keeping the sport in the cellar for just that much longer.

[Romdawg88]

Tommy won by 1st round stoppage. From the reports he broke Stover's nose while suffering no real damage himself. Not to surprising considering he's a former world class boxer and the guy he was fighting is a 37 wrestler who's not a full time fighter.