Tommy Morrison, what could have been

He spoke about his steroid use in 2005;

Tommy 'The Duke' Morrison Speaks Out on Steroids in Boxing
By Sean Newman,
RingsideReport.com

SN: Tommy, you have always been very open about the fact that during much of your professional boxing career, you used steroids. Can you tell us when you started using them?

I can tell you when, but I won't say how (laughs). Actually, I got into them a little bit in high school, but it was more in the pills, the oral stuff. The injections and stuff wasn't until later. As far as my professional career, probably around 1991. I used them not while I was training, but in between bouts. I just want to make sure that is clear.

SN: What kind of steroids did you stack and in what dosages?

Usually a CC of whatever I was taking. A lot of times they were oral, some of them weren't, in the off time. The benefits were that it made me more aggressive, like I needed that (laughs). It made me more aggressive in every area of my life. I never went over the edge, though, like some guys you hear about. I want everyone to know though, and I learned early, that if you're going to do it, you have to keep a cool head.

SN: What changes did you notice when you began using steroids?

You become bigger, faster, and stronger. That's the reason why everyone does it. In order to compete, you have to do it too. That's not something that was talked about, but I guarantee you that it was never tested, so hell yeah people are going to do it.

SN: How do you think steroids would aid a professional boxer, or any athlete in general?

Like I said, it just makes you bigger, faster, and stronger. It helps with your endurance also, your recovery time between rounds. You recover faster when you have that stuff in your system. The flip side of that is that if you go over your boundaries, push yourself beyond your limit, you'll never recover. That's why it's important that while you do it, you have to train, you have to work out.

SN: In his book "Juiced," Jose Canseco reveals that he doesn't believe that he would have even made it to the major leagues without the benefit of steroids. How far do you think you would have gone in professional boxing without them?

I wouldn't have gone as far as I did, I guarantee you that. I probably would have fought as a cruiserweight. When I was in training, if I didn't have that extra fifteen to twenty pounds, I would have fought there. I always had the power and the speed, I just needed the endurance, which was my problem.

SN: How were you able to avoid testing positive for steroid use during your career?

Because they didn't test for steroids back then. They do now, I don't know why, but they do. It's very expensive, and from what I hear, when they test for something, they have to test for a specific type of steroid. So if they don't know what they're testing for, they won't figure out what you're on, unless you just offered it up to them.

SN: What is your opinion on the current steroid controversy surrounding Major League Baseball? Is it much ado about nothing, or should strict measures be taken to eliminate the use of performance enhancing substances?

I think that in a professional sport the athlete should be able to do what the hell they want. People need to just back off and let them be what they want to be. That's why people spend the money to go to the ballpark in the first place, to see somebody jack one out. If they jack one out, maybe more people come to the ballpark, and maybe they'll make more money. Know what I mean? That's it, in a nutshell. College players, high school players, no it doesn't set a good example, but those guys didn't ask to be examples, they didn't ask to be role models. They just are. They're just trying to do what's best for them, and everyone needs to stay out of their business.

SN: Do you think that asterisks should be added to the numerous records that have been set in what has become known as "The Steroid Era" in baseball?

Well you don't know what those guys back in the old days were doing who set the records. Without positive proof, I don't see how they could do something like that.

SN: While taking steroids or in the years since your boxing career ended, have you had any noticeable side effects or health problems as a result of your use? How do you explain the untimely deaths of some athletes and former athletes who have died from problems allegedly brought on by steroids?

Not one problem. Matter of fact, I still take testosterone as part of my HIV treatment. As far as athletes, when I used them, I used them under a doctor's supervision, and I knew a lot about them anyway. I learned a lot along the way. So if you are going to do it, you have to do it the right way.

SN: Have there ever been any boxers that you knew were taking steroids while you were fighting?

Well, there's no doubt some people were taking them, but I can't name any names for you. I definitely know about some of the top fighters, though. But just because you take them, doesn't mean you're going to get better. You have to know how to take them, or what to do while you're taking them, or otherwise it would just be a waste. But I want to reiterate what I said before, in a professional sport you should just be left alone. That's why people pay the big bucks to sit ringside at a heavyweight championship fight, they want to see somebody get hurt. People love violence, so call a spade a spade. Let 'em go, let 'em do what they want. It's not about what kind of example we're setting for our children, because it's gonna be twenty ****ing years before they are even playing baseball or whatever. So they'll grow a brain between now and then, and by then it will be forgotten.

SN: Did you ever feel like you were cheating by using steroids?

Hell no. I thought I was doing myself and my family a service. I was making myself a bigger and stronger person, and I loved it. It made me feel like in the morning when I got out of bed I wanted to tear down the wall. I was snorting like a bull, walking around the house. I wanted to bang everything that moved. (Laughs)

SN: What do you say in response to those who argue that a fighter or player who does not use steroids is almost pressured into taking them for fear of not being able to compete on a level playing field?

I never did it out of a fear that I couldn't compete, I just looked at it as bettering my chances. I looked around and from what I saw, everybody was doing the same ****. It wasn't something that was talked about openly, but when you looked around you could tell. Takes one to know one, you know?

 

He also had a ton of heart. He didn't quit .. he had wars with Hipp, Ruddock, Williamson .. some pretty tough guys ..

 

Very true.

 

Though he was no genius. His answers justifying PEDs & cheating (when tested for) are pat & lame.
Like kids will "forget" everything, that everyone will take them under a doctor's care-that we even KNOW any safe levels for PED level usage...
And the false equivalancy of taking testosterone for mere replacement levels or medical treatment like HIV with the amounts & ways it is taken for sports.

His son is big, a fighter larger than he even was.
But apparently himself does not think he would be a modern sized HW if clean.
We can say he needed PEDs (like some HWs) to be world class.

 

I disagree with those who say he was untalented. For me the question is, without steroids how would he have done at cruiserweight?

 

His early fights on ESPN, he looked much faster and sharp as a prospect. I watched him knocking out my old friend Ric Enis again on YouTube awhile back and thought he looked better at that point then he did two years and fifteen pounds later. Seemed like he sacrificed something valuable to pack on muscle and "look the part". Maybe he needed to bulk up to compete with the likes of Mercer and I could be dead wrong.

 

Rocky took the fight outta him in the streets

 

He was also KOd in the 1st round by Michael Bennt fresh off the win against Foreman.

 

I think had he been more focused on things like training and roadwork he probably would've beaten Ray Mercer. The Michael Bennt lose was preventable definitely. Otherwise it was just too tough an era without having a great defense or better chin.

 

Yep, Rocky ruined him

 

In the most recent 'Best I Faced' feature on The Ring site, former heavyweight champ Pinklon Thomas ranks Morrison as one of the strongest opponents and the best puncher (over Tyson!). Very interesting to read his perspective although 'Pink' was well past it by the time they fought. I've read that he admitted in court papers that he was diagnosed HIV positive in 1989 (?!) A true waste of some untapped talent/potential if true.

 

Like the fight with Yuri Vaulin, but worse.