By Darren S. Barcomb: In recent weeks there has been much speculation regarding a boxing card set for February 25th, 2011 at the Pierre Charbonneau Centre in Montreal. SP Promotion had planned to headline the event with the comeback of former WBO and IBC Heavyweight Champion Tommy “The Duke” Morrison (48-3-1, 42 KO’s) facing Erik Barrak (3-0, 2 KO’s). Also slated to fight at the event are “Merciless” Ray Mercer and Joe Gatti in separate bouts. The current status of the event is now very much in question though as Morrison has been in a stand-off with Quebec’s Boxing Commission over his refusal to submit to their prescribed testing methods for the H.I.V. virus.
Morrison, remembered for his portrayal of Tommy Gunn in Rocky V, and for his punching power and left hook during the late 1980’s- middle 1990’s in the heavyweight ranks, was banned from boxing after testing positive for H.I.V. in 1996. Prior to the ban, Morrison secured victories over memorable names such as George Foreman, Carl “The Truth” Williams, Donovan “Razor” Ruddock, and Joe Hipp. It has been a long road for Morrison since that time including a stint in prison for drug and weapon charges stemming from a 1999 arrest.
The story does not end there though for Morrison, the grandnephew of Hollywood Star John Wayne. Over the years, Morrison now appears to have tested negative for H.I.V. several times since the original 1996 results that exiled him from the sport. Beginning around early 2007, Morrison attempted to orchestrate one of the greatest comebacks in the history of the sport. Doubts regarding his H.I.V. status, allegations of blood tampering, and fears within the boxing community have repeatedly attempted to derail that comeback. Morrison has been able to compete sporadically over the past few years, mostly in jurisdictions that have less stringent licensing requirements.
Morrison, who is now 42 years old, has fought five times since his initial H.I.V. exile in 1996. They include:
• November 11th, 1996: Morrison defeated Marcus Rhode by a Round 1 TKO in Japan. Due to Morrison’s recent H.I.V. announcement, the bout implemented rules that would have stopped the fight if either combatant suffered a cut, with the decision going to the scorecards. At the time, this was perceived as the last fight of Morrison’s storied career.
• February 7th, 2007: After now testing negative for H.I.V on several occasions, Morrison defeated John Castle by a Round 2 TKO in West Virginia.
• June 9th, 2007: Morrison competed in a Mixed Martial Arts contest at the Yavapai-Apache Nation’s Cliff Castle Casino in Arizona against John Stover. Morrison won via Round 1 KO. Stover outweighed Morrison by 125 pounds.
• September 8th, 2008: Again Morrison was allowed to return to the ring. He defeated Matt Weishaar by way of a Round 3 TKO in Mexico.
• January 31st, 2009: Morrison scored a Round 1 KO over Corey Williams in a Muay Thai matchup sanctioned by the Warrior Rage Kickboxing Federation in Wyoming. The win gave Morrison the title of Wyoming Muai Thai Heavyweight Champion.
Now Canada and the entire World anxiously awaits to see if Morrison and the Quebec Commission can come to an agreement as to a proper and accurate testing method to prove whether or not Morrison carries the contagious virus known as H.I.V. Morrison and his supporters, who are many in numbers, point to the recent negative tests and the fact that the Nevada Athletic Commission is unable to produce his supposedly negative test results from 1996. If Morrison was indeed wrongfully diagnosed as H.I.V. positive, then it is truly one of the greatest sports injustices of the past century. Prior to his banishment, Morrison had just signed a three fight, $38 Million deal that would have included a matchup with the legendary “Iron” Mike Tyson. The Nevada test certainly cost Morrison his livelihood, his reputation, and left a horrible stigma on his life. After being forced from boxing, his life spiraled downward and it took much hard work and dedication to build it back up.
Also scheduled to appear at the February 25th card is “Merciless “Ray Mercer (36-7-1, 26 KO’s), who once knocked out Morrison to claim the WBO Championship. The two met in October of 1991, and when SP Promotion first announced their lineup, it seemed as though a possible Morrison vs. Mercer II could be planned in the future. For this show however, Mercer is lined up to face Montreal’s Stephane Tessier, who sports a professional record of 3-26-1.
Mercer, who turns 50 in April, has not boxed since September of 2008, but has kept himself in fighting shape. He has competed in kickboxing and Mixed Martial Arts bouts in recent years and on June 13th, 2009, he knocked out former UFC Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia nine seconds into the first round in a battle in Alabama.
Mercer, an Olympic Gold Medalist, also made post-boxing headlines when he battled internet sensation Kimbo Slice in a Mixed Martial Arts Exhibition in 2007. Mercer lost that fight by a 1st Round submission. Now it seems that “Merciless” is ready to step back into the boxing ring and display the dominance that once guided him to the WBO, IBF, and NABF Heavyweight Championships.
Another familiar name on the SP Promotion lineup is Montreal native and light-heavyweight Joe Gatti, who is the older brother of deceased world champ Arturo Gatti. He is 43 years old and has not fought since August 2002, when he fell to Sven Ottke by 9th Round TKO in a bout for the IBF super-middleweight title. Gatti (30-8, 22 KO’s) is set to face 31 year old Walid Smichet (20-7-3, 14 KO’s).
Rounding out the card will be several Montreal fighters, and the event promises to entertain if it does occur. SP Promotion Director of Operations Jean Marc Emond announced last week that he has left the company, leaving many unanswered questions as the 25th approaches. Tickets for the event have been on sale and the company still has not issued any press releases or given updates on the Tommy Morrison debacle. Rumors have surfaced that Morrison will be replaced by former opponent Matt Weishaar, but no official statement has been issued.
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