I know I can. Los Angeles CNN . He was 44. . Maybe like a quick R.I.P. Behind the scenes . Can I act? It strives to capture the original film's spirit, but it falls . The collaboration with Sylvester Stallone in John G. Avildsen's Rocky V became the peak of his popularity. Morrison protested and denied having HIV or AIDS up to his death at And he did. It was far removed from Rocky I, II, III, and IV, where Stallone played the hero and won battles inside the ropes. He will and should be remembered as a cautionary tale: the antiMagic Johnson of the sports world, someone who chose an awful death instead of a chance at a different life. Tommy Morrison, who displayed his hard-hitting boxing style as a protege of Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Balboa in the 1990 movie Rocky V and defeated George Foreman to . That was Tommy. He's still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet, " they said. Formerly known as DragonKing Dark Podcast, the When It Was Cool Dark Podcast show brings you tales of the supernatural, true crime, paranormal, and the darker corners of pop culture. Sage Stallone, the 36-year-old son of actor Sylvester Stallone, died of atherosclerosis, which brought on a heart attack, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County coroner said . He also starred alongside Sylvester Stallone in the film Rocky V, playing Tommy 'The Machine' Gunn. Tommy Morrison also got a break in acting by appearing as the character Tommy "The Machine" Gunn in Sylvester Stallone's 1990 Rocky V movie. That's his right and privilege," Holden said. but Sylvester Stallone couldn't take his eyes off of him and cast him as Tommy . Rocky V sits at the bottom of all of the movies with 31% on both the Tomato-meter and the audience score. Well, it didnt work, and it devastated me. He was knocked down three times and the fight was called before the first round ended. Featured. Morrison indeed came back, but he was never the same feared fighter. Stallone believes this pushed the movie out of sync with the others. / CBS New York. If you've ever seen Mr. T's boxing match with Roddy Piper, which was staged, you can see T doesn't have the faintest idea what to do in a boxing ring. giving Rocky advice from beyond the grave, Game Over: How Politics Has Turned the Sports World Upside Down, We Went There: DeAndre Jordan Night in Los Angeles, 'Jalen and Jacoby': DeMarcus Cousins, the Thunder, and More, The Tao of Dabo: How to Appreciate Clemson's Coach, Bullock and Thornton Cant Save Our Brand Is Crisis, 50 Scenes That Do Not Appear in the Fox X-Files Revival, In Praise of Beach Slang, 2015s Most Sincere Rock Band. Tommy "The Duke" Morrison was a rising boxing star in the late 1980s into the early 1990s who famously held a version of the World Boxing Championship, defeating George Foreman. 2023 Cable News Network. - Tommy Morrison, the former heavyweight champion who stood toe-to-toe with Lennox Lewis and George Foreman and later tested positive for HIV, died Monday. On claiming the role, Morrison said in 1990: I understand Im being presented with an opportunity that comes along once in a lifetime. BrooklynBomber, Aug 1, 2007. Sylvester Stallone Death Hoax Dismissed Since Actor Is 'Alive And Well'. Part of the When It Was Cool Podcast Network from WhenItWasCool.com and hosted by DragonKingKarl (Karl Stern). I figured he could have been one of Rockys trainers. Duke says, Hit me and Ill sue. Rocky then punches him into next week: Sue me for what? Its a statement that he is finally comfortable in his own skin. Morrison won the World Boxing Organization heavyweight title in 1993, defeating George Foreman. Would love to see a redemption angle for Ivan Drago and I want to see a good guy Clubber Lang but still with a very energetic commentary. This wasnt the case in five. ", You May Also Be Interested In These Stories, (TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. Along with the stinging defeat, Morrison saw a potential $7.5 million payday for a title unification fight against Lewis wash away. He was going to visit Drago before his big fight who was now living in Vegas for some reason and was in the hospital suffering from the side effects of years of steroid use. I'll be back.". It seemed impossible. 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Interest-Based Ads. He makes the bold decision to mentor a younger boxer named Tommy (Tommy Morrison). He was 44. A spokesman for his long-time promoter and friend Tony Holden's company, Holden Promotions, said: "We can confirm that Tommy Morrison passed away late on Sunday night.". When he was released, Morrison said his HIV tests had resulted in false positives, and he wanted to resume his career. 2. He'd been preparing for another fight that winter when his blood test came back positive for the virus that causes AIDs. He also got his break in acting by appearing as the character Tommy "The Machine" Gunn in Sylvester Stallone's 1990 Rocky V. "It's one of those situations you have to live with and learn from it. There are a million fighters out there who would kill to be in my position. Former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison died in an Omaha, Neb., hospital late Sunday night. For anyone who hate-watched Entourage, it is too sweet for words to see child-E get knocked down to the pavement. "Yo Adrian!" OMAHA, Neb. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register. He finished with a record of 48-3-1 with 42 knockouts. Tommy Morrison made a name for himself in the ring, defeating the likes of George Foreman and Razor Ruddock. He was 44. Stallone has never, ever, looked so fluid throwing hands. #4. The cause of his death is currently unknown and may be a cause of contention for quite some time. Former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison died in an Omaha, Neb., hospital late Sunday night. It was too dark, the Hollywood superstar told Variety Magazine in 2019. Early life. Updated Morrison, who gained fame for his role in the movie "Rocky V," has died. (After 12 hours of Rocky, I think I was on the floor.). Its a tragic end but it produced something that demands a second look. Carl weathers (apollo) and stallone began feuding after weathers demanded too much money to appear in six, but had always said he was tougher than stallone, when asked to rank the toughest guys in the movies stallone said "tommy morrison, dolph lundgren, myself, mr t, burgess meredith, talia shire, my son, then carl weathers". Duke" Morrison was a rising boxing star in the late 1980s into the Morrison said at a news conference he'd never fight again, blaming his plight on a "permissive, fast and reckless lifestyle.''. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much And then he started research on the Internet and started saying it was a conspiracy. Published Sept. 2, 2013. OMAHA, Neb. It was far removed from Rocky I, II, III, and IV, where Stallone played the hero and won battles inside the ropes. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Also in Rocky Balboa he's living a decent middle class life not super rich. Its the difference between an amateur and a professional: In basketball movie terms, its the difference between Ray Jesus Shuttlesworth Allen and Wesley Could that dribble be any higher? Snipes. He also fought and lost to boxing great Lennox Lewis in 1995. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. I know I can. In other words, we should consider ourselves lucky that Roger Goodell hasnt seized the film negatives and had them destroyed. The script reads: A POLICEMAN SPEAKS: "The ambulance is a minute away." ADRIAN: "When you get to the hospital, you'll be all right." ROCKY: "My hands are cold." His career reached its apex in the summer of 1993 with the unanimous decision over Foreman, then in the midst of a comeback, to claim a vacant title. He also dealt with weapons charges and multiple DUI incidents over the years. "You prepare for things like this, and still you feel like you got hit by a truck when you hear the news.". Discussion in 'Boxing Discussion' started by Prestige Crane, Aug 1, 2007. 25th February 2023. Morrison's lifestyle caused his star to tumble and a failed HIV It erupts every time you see 12-year-old Sage Stallone, who died last year at the age of 36, playing a character trying to escape his fathers shadow. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. In recent years, he claimed that the HIV test produced a false positive. (CBSNewYork/AP) TommyMorrison, the former heavyweight champion who stood toe-to-toe with Lennox Lewis and George Foreman and later tested positive for HIV, died Monday. It was Rocky, and Gunn trading blows in a punch-up without gloves. Tommy Morrison died Sunday night of an undisclosed illness. Tommy Morrison blameless for Sylvester Stallones Rocky V bomb, Follow experienced boxing writer Phil Jay on Twitter, Xander Zayas ready to kick on in 2023 ahead of fight return, Mexican bantamweight Gael Cabrera signs with Golden Boy, Heaney relishes Flatley rematch on March 25, Christian Mbilli vs Carlos Gongora undercard set for March 23, Training injury puts super middleweight contenders life in danger, Conor Benn shares eggsplosive fact on WBC rating reinstatement. 2023 ESPN Internet Ventures. Morrison's longtime promoter, Tony Holden, said Morrison died at 11:50 p.m. with his . Tommy "The Duke" Morrison was a rising boxing star in the late 1980s into the early 1990s who famously held a version of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) title by defeating George Foreman. Round-by-Round coverage: How Tommy Fury vs. Jake Paul played out, Inside the creation of Jake Paul's 'Stardust Warriors' trunks, Women's boxing divisional rankings: Thorslund, Fundora solidify spots after dominant performances, Divisional rankings: Lara still No. He was 44. He was 44. Morrison won his first 28 professional fights, beating faded champions such as . Yes, I can. Along the way, Morrison became such a recognizable face that he was cast in Rocky V alongside Sylvester Stallone. Gunn goes on to win the heavyweight title and then later fights and loses to his mentor. In 1993, Morrison beat George Foreman to win the WBO heavyweight title, only to lose it to unheralded Michael Bentt in a defeat that scuttled a showdown with Lennox Lewis. As with so many things in Morrison's life, the good was quickly followed by the bad. Morrison died Sunday night at a Nebraska hospital, said Tony Holden, his longtime promoter and close friend. Championship, defeating George Foreman. After turning professional in 1988, Morrison won 29 consecutive bouts before a defeat by fellow American Ray Mercer in 1991. Weathers actually looked like he knew what he was doing in the ring and moved pretty well. It extended into the recent Creed franchise, which stars Michael B. Jordan in the lead role of Adonis Creed . He was finally sentenced to two years in prison in 2000, and another year was added to his sentence in 2002 for violating parole. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. This wasnt the case in five. We always ended up friends. Morrison also appeared as "Tommy Gunn" alongside movie star Sylvester Stallone in Rocky V in 1990. but Sylvester Stallone couldn't take his eyes off of him and cast him as Tommy . On claiming . Did Deontay Wilder predict his capitulating Tyson Fury knockout? In 1989, actor Sylvester Stallone observed one of Morrison's bouts. (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Morrison would fight Lewis a couple of years later, getting knocked out in the sixth round in Atlantic City, N.J. Morrison, nicknamed "The Duke," never reached the status of such contemporaries as Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield, but it was surely a full career. Like Porgy, he has plenty of nothing and nothing is plenty for him. One of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture series. Morrison won the WBO title by outpointing George Foreman in 1993. Updated Mar 15, 2021 at 11:19pm. Tommy Morrison died Sunday night of an undisclosed illness. I witnessed it. Stallone arranged a script reading and cast Morrison in the movie Rocky V as Tommy "The Machine" Gunn, a young and talented protege of the retired Rocky Balboa. Tommy Morrison, a former heavyweight boxing champion who starred in the Rocky V film, died, his former promoter told CNN. Morrison tested positive for HIV in 1996 before a fight with Arthur Weathers, effectively ending his boxing career. Stallone was at one of Morrison's fights after the success of the first four films. When he was released, Morrison said his HIV tests had resulted in false positives, and he wanted to resume his career. Tommy "The And it was heartbreaking.. Morrison's license was quickly suspended in 1996 by Nevada after his positive HIV test, and the ban was, in effect, upheld by every other sanctioning body. George Bernard Shaw said, Without art, the crudeness of reality would make the world unbearable. Tommy Morrison, if nothing else, left behind what is in my mind a piece of art. The story centred around . I think Ill do all right.. The former world heavyweight champion remains sorely missed nine years and more after his tragic passing at the age of 44. Tommy David Morrison was born on January 2, 1969, in Gravette, Arkansas. It involves the legendary Burgess Meredith clearly close to shedding his mortal coil, as Mickey, giving Rocky advice from beyond the grave. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. Morrison (also no stranger to real-life brawling) and Avildsen give us a scene so far removed from the slick polish of Rocky defeats Communism or Rocky defeats Scary Mohawked Black Man that it is bracing. A little off topic but according to these records, Tommy had HIV back in 88/89. He was soon cast as Tommy "The Machine" Gunn, Rocky Balboa's talented young protg. Tommy Morrison could act and was not to blame for the failure of Rocky V. It was only surprising that he didn't work more before . Instead of fighting for the heavyweight title, he would now be in for the fight of his life. "That's the way Tommy took off after he was told he was HIV-positive," Holden added. All the other opponents were great fighters with balls - Rocky could respect that have cordial relations with them in the years that followed, much like he did with Apollo. Top of the IWC Hit List. Morrison . The former boxing champion and actor, Tommy Morrison, died at 44 years old. Tommy Morrison could act and was not to blame for the failure of Rocky V. It was only surprising that he didnt work more before his career was taken away. The Duke was utterly believable as big-punching white hope who conquered the boxing world and called out his ex-trainer in Stallone. Follow experienced boxing writer Phil Jay on Twitter @PhilJWBN. Sage Stallone was born in Los Angeles, California, the elder son and first child of Sasha Czack and actor Sylvester Stallone.He was the brother of Seargeoh "Seth" Stallone, and half-brother of Sophia, Sistine, and Scarlet Stallone.He was the nephew of actor and singer Frank Stallone, and grandson of Jackie Stallone.His stepmother was model and entrepreneur Jennifer Flavin. I don't doubt that Dolph was tough being a European karate champion, but I really doubt T had more skill in the ring than Carl Weathers. The high drama comes from Academy Awardwinning director John G. Avildsen and Sylvester Stallone choosing to send the iconic Rocky Balboa crashing to earth. Can I act? Follow experienced boxing writer Phil Jay on Twitter @PhilJWBN. appreciated. Wasn't it explained that Rocky was embarrassed by that street fight with Tommy? By February, Morrison had tested positive for HIV. Morrison won the WBO title by outpointing George Foreman in 1993. . By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. This is a film ahead of its time. Morrison, who also starred with Sylvester Stallone as boxer Tommy Gunn in "Rocky V," lost immediately after beating Foreman, and was defeated again by Lennox Lewis in 1995. With only one previous acting credit two years before in They Live as an extra, Morrison would only grace screens once more. "All through his career, him and I would come not to physical blows but disagreements on certain things. I'm sure if what Stallone is saying makes sense. He had already run afoul of the law in 1993, when he pleaded guilty to assaulting a college student. All the other opponents were great fighters with balls - Rocky could respect that have cordial relations with them in the years that followed, much like he did with Apollo. A 1996 TV appearance in Cybill was the last time Morrison would be seen in a thespian capacity. . But Tommy Morrison's . I believe he won a toughman championship though. Follow WBN: Facebook, Insta, Twitter. Morrison was a much-admired part of the boxing community until he was controversially pushed out of the sport following a misdiagnosis of HIV in the mid-1990s. Clubber Lang was going to be a guest commentator who wished Rocky good luck and got into it with Mason and was supposed to be the commentator who was 100% pro Rocky. Tommy Morrison most definitely hit harder than Mike Tyson. At the time of his death, . "I don't know what the official cause of death at the hospital will be," he said. I take Clubber Lang over all of them thank you very much. He gained notoriety outside of the ring in 1989 when he starred as Tommy "The Machine" Gunn in Rocky V. In 1996, Morrison made headlines around the world as the first boxer with HIV and was banned from the sport. Well, I guess people will see for themselves when Rocky V comes out. "You have to look at who he was fighting in the '90s, the guys in that division were Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Riddick Bowe, Ray Mercer, George Foreman. His career reached its apex in the summer of 1993 with a unanimous decision over Foreman, then in the midst of his comeback, to claim a vacant title. Tommy "The Duke" Morrison (January 2, 1969 - September 1, 2013) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1988 to 2008, and held the WBO heavyweight title in 1993. For just rocky memes go to r/rockymemes. One of the 100 darkest moments in pop culture series. He was a prodigious puncher whose bid to fight in the 1988 Seoul Olympics ended at the hands of Ray Mercer, who later dealt Morrison his first professional loss. per week whilst filming. That was 1990, so for almost 15 years, I was pretty well cooked.. Meanwhile, Rocky tries to improve his relationship with his son, Robert (Sage Stallone). The triumph of Michael B. Jordan and Jonathan Majors in Creed III, Benn: WBC done me a 'disservice' with egg ruling, WBO orders Crawford title defense vs. Rocha, Serrano injured; rematch with Taylor postponed, Fury wins split decision to hand Paul first loss, Davis-Garcia bout finalized, moved to April 22, Sources: Taylor, Lopez agree to June 10 title bout, British officials looking into Lara spitting incident. But Tommy 3 min read. Former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison has died at the age of 44 after a lengthy battle with illness. On September 1, 2013, Tommy Morrison died of non-communicable disease. On Friday (February 24) the actor's reps officially confirmed that Sylvester Stallone is not dead. It is Talia Shires finest work since she was showing Carlo Rizzi a new way to set the table. Press J to jump to the feed. He later claimed the test was a 'false positive', and returned to the ring for a short comeback in 2007. That would mean he fought for numerous years, basically his whole pro career, with HIV, https://www.scribd.com/document/318891336/Tommy-Morrison-Psychiatrist-Letter, https://www.scribd.com/document/318892815/Dawn-Brady-Deposition-Excerpt-04-21-16. Did Stallone ever say anything about Morrison's death? The Associated Press contributed to this report. A subreddit dedicated to the Rocky movie series, a series about a boxer named Rocky Balboa and his life. "Tommy's a very stubborn person and he views things the way he wants to view things. age of 44 in 2013. (AP) -- Tommy Morrison, the former heavyweight champion who stood toe-to-toe with Lennox Lewis and George Foreman and later tested positive for HIV, died Monday. The problem is Tommy (Gunn, not Morrison) was a dick. Morrison died . Morrison was born in Arkansas and grew up in Oklahoma. Boxer Tommy Morrison dead at 44: Was featured opposite Sylvester Stallone in 'Rocky V' and had boxing career ruined by HIV-positive status Boxer Tommy Morrison, a former heavyweight champion who was featured opposite Sylvester Stallone in the 1990 sequel Rocky V, and who made headlines after it was revealed that he was HIV-positive, died . Sylvester Stallone is best known for the Rocky film series, which has become a classic. Sylvester Stallone watched one of his fights and decided to cast him as 'Tommy Gunn' in Rocky V, with Morrison taking a six-month break from his promising career.. Boxing pound-for-pound rankings: Bivol keeps winning and moving up; Haney earns top 10 spot, A megafight is set: Here's what's at stake when Gervonta Davis faces Ryan Garcia in April, Gervonta Davis' arrest history: Timeline of abuse and hit-and-run charges and denials, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. He passed medical tests in Arizona even as Nevada stood by its decision and returned to the ring. But, at the same time, I dont think I have or will be given anything Im not capable of earning. Boxer Tommy Morrison dead at 44: Was featured opposite Sylvester Stallone in 'Rocky V' and had boxing career ruined by HIV-positive status Boxer Tommy Morrison, a former heavyweight champion who was featured opposite Sylvester Stallone in the 1990 sequel Rocky V, and who made headlines after it was revealed that he was HIV-positive, died. He finished with a record of 48-3-1 with 42 knockouts. Yes, I can. Its such a waste; in Rocky V, you see it. He had already run afoul of the law in 1993, when he pleaded guilty to assaulting a college student. Tommy Morrison, who hailed from Jay, scored a prominent role in the "Rocky V" movie with Sylvester Stallone and soared to the top of the world heavyweight boxing ranks in 1993, died on Sunday . You see in Tommy Gunn all of the stubbornness, pride, anger, and poor choices that defined Tommy Morrison during the last years of his life. The blond Adonis who had beaten the fearsome George Foreman for the heavyweight title and starred with Sylvester Stallone in Rocky V was too fit, too strong, to carry the dreaded virus. Tommy "The Duke" Morrison was a rising boxing star in the late 1980s into the early 1990s who famously held a version of the World Boxing Championship, defeating George Foreman. It was a false positive, a government conspiracy, anything but what it actually was. He was 44. Stallone subsequently cast Morrison as Tommy Gunn in Rocky V. Although it wasnt as big a success as the first four films, Morrison was happy to be part of the franchise. His death could have easily been due to steroid and drug abuse even if it looked similar to an AIDS death. 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His most recent book is Game Over: How Politics Has Turned the Sports World Upside Down. He was 44. The larger-than-life character, who was known as an . , bloodthirsty race driver named "Machine Gun Joe Viterbo" in the Roger Corman-produced Death Race 2000 (1975). Stallone subsequently cast Morrison as 'Tommy Gunn' in Rocky V. Although it wasn't as big a success as the first four films, Morrison was just happy to be part of the franchise. Morrison's license was quickly suspended by Nevada, and the ban was, in effect, upheld by every other sanctioning body. After suffering his first loss in boxing, what now for Jake Paul? Every Rocky had been more successful than the last, and then it just plummeted. I remember hearing one of the original ideas for Rocky Balboa was to show Rocky made peace with his rivals throughout the years. I recall reading this too. So when he fights Tommy Morrison in the movie, Rocky says, I cant beat you in the ring, but Ill beat you in the street.. Read about our approach to external linking. We are reminded that Rocky really isnt a boxer but a street fighter, a former loan sharks collector who is more comfortable in an alley than in the ring.