1 ) Record 48-3-1, 42 Ko's. 31 Ko's inside of 3 rounds. 2 ) Quality of opposition: Two halls of fame fighters faced ( Lewis and Foreman ). Likely 3 top 100 ATG's in Mercer, Ruddock, Thomas ( Thomas was past it ) Others who fought for a world before they meet Morrison: Williams, and Hipp. Record vs. the best " names he fought " 5 wins 2 losses. Ugly losses 1 ( KO'd by Bennt in 1 round. ) 3 ) Quality of opposition faced. Likely better than any active heavyweight today. Summary: Morrison fought in a very talented time. While he did not have a good chin, stamina or defense, he did, in fact, have some name wins. Losing to Lewis or Mercer at their best is no shame. Tommy had an all-time left hook, top hand speed, fair skills and good heart. For example, he beat Joe Hipp with a broken jaw. Problems outside the ring such as excessive partying, multiple surgeries on his hands, and AIDS, which we aren't sure when he acquired it caused him to underachieve a bit. Questions: 1 ) If he were around today, would you pick him over Wilder? I would. 2 ) Do you consider Morrison a top 100 ATG heavyweight? I do. 3 ) Do you think he would be in the top 10 in most decades of heavyweight boxing? I do. 4 ) Do you give him a chance to upset anyone / would pick him over some lineal champions. Yes, to both. 5 ) Do you agree, Morrison was a fans type of fighter, seldom in a boring fight? For sure. Thanks in advance to those who reply.
With all the Morrison vs. threads here, I thought this thread would be more active. [url]https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=tommy+morrison+highlights&view=detail&mid=3B7EA7180C02FF2BC7CA3B7EA7180C02FF2BC7CA&FORM=VIRE[/url]
Just saw this thread. I think Morrison’s biggest issue was stamina and of course the HIV virus which we don’t know when he contracted, some credible reports, which if true are disappointing on the character of the man, allege he was aware of the disease since 1989. I’m surprised he both lived as long as he did, with his penchant for not following orders or for how well he maintained a top athletic performance. He does look diminished in the Lewis fight - and it’s not surprising his very next fight in a place that tested he received a positive result. To answer the questions you posed: 1) he’s 50/50 with Wilder. I love that left hook to find it’s mark and Wilder is sloppy. However Wilder is rangy and Tommy didn’t exactly possess a good chin. 2) borderline. He looks like a top 100 all time great and I was a big fan - but his resume has lot of names that are past it. 3) most decades but not all - deep decades like the 70s he would probably shoot himself in the foot and lose to ppl that you would expect him to defeat 4) yes. I think he would beat Braddock, Spinks, Briggs 5) most definitely extremely entertaining fighter
For all his entertainment value, Tommy was very much an also-ran in his own era. Something of a poor man's Ernie Shavers. 1) I would not pick him over Wilder. Nor would I say he has no chance. It would be an edge of the seat encounter. 2) I suspect he is Top 100-125 3) If he were able to juice, he would be top 10 in some of the early 1900's. If it were a level playing field, probably not. 4) Again, a juiced Tommy gets past the Burns, Braddock and Leon types, tho I am not sure he beats the Leon that showed up for Ali I. 5) Super exciting to watch.
I don't think the PED's helped Morrison. He did not need them to hit hard, and the additional weight and muscles drained his stamina, a weak part of his game. You could argue PED's had an adverse effect in his case. IMO 1990-1996 was absolutely loaded with talent! If Tommy fought in many decades, he'd be a real force.
I'll always give Tommy credit for sticking to his strategy of stick and move in beating George Foreman...he was disciplined and smart that night...something you can't say about Michael Moorer when he fought GF.
1 ) I don't pick him over Wilder, I agree with Seamus that it would be an edge of your seat fight. 2 ) Yes I do. 3 ) No doubt he would be in the top 10 of all decades thus far. 4 ) Yes that left hook tho! 5 ) Pure entertainment!
If PEDs didn't help, so many fighters and athletes would not be spending so much money and time getting them and hiding their use of them. It is just silly to suggest otherwise.
Thanks for the thread Mendoza but you're overrating him a bit, I'll post more later.... But no way does he beat Deontae Wilder. Wilder destroys him early..uses his long arms great left jab and good sense of range to keep Morrison on the outside..then explodes with his right hand and leaves glass jaw out cold on the canvas. Wilder is trending toward top 15-20 heavyweights of all time with a few more wins.
This fight has single handedly changed my perception, ranking, and everything I thought I knew about Tommy Morrison... This content is protected
that kid just needed to lay off the weights and do his roadwork. His mouth would be hanging open by the middle of the 3rd round. He also gained celebrity before he had earned it. Not a good formula. He had some talent. I liked to watch him fight and I was always looking to see if he was gonna progress. I do agree with the OP that Morrison showed heart during his fights. Problem is when your tired it goes back to the Vince Lombardi comment about fatigue.
I loved watching Morrison. He brought a lot of colour to the 90 s scene. He wasn't bad compared to some but those glaring faults he had always stopped him from beating the true elites ,in any era. But saying that, he could give any top heavy a hard fight on his best day .