Tommy Morrison

Street-wise and ring-toughened, Tommy Morrison seemed a perfect fit when the producers of "Rocky V" went searching for a young Midwestern boxer to play opposite Sylvester Stallone. Tall and blond, the Oklahoma-born Morrison appeared to possess the poise and background necessary for a successful Hollywood debut. Indeed, his great-uncle reportedly was the late Marion Morrison, who earned some fame as John Wayne. About the only thing missing from Tommy Morrison's resume was acting experience.

In moments of victory, Tommy "The Duke" Morrison used to stand in the ring with his big red boxing gloves raised triumphantly over his head. Now he stands with his hands clasped behind his back, the humble posture required when an inmate leaves his room at the Southwest Arkansas Community Punishment Center. The man who once was No. 1 is now inmate No. 610788.

Tommy Morrison stopped Art Tucker at 1:12 of the second round to win their scheduled 10-round heavyweight fight at Atlantic City, N.J.

Former heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison, who faces drug and weapons charges, is undergoing hospital tests at Fayetteville, Ark., to determine if he has AIDS. Morrison was at Washington Regional Medical Center on Thursday at the urging of his attorney, who said he had noticed a recent change in Morrison's physical and mental conditions. Attorney John Hudson said he asked Washington County jail officials to have Morrison tested to see if his HIV had developed into AIDS.

Heavyweight Tommy Morrison (36-1), in a tune-up for his June bout with George Foreman, knocked out Dan Murphy (39-10) at 1:10 of the third round in Kansas City.

Any truth to the rumor that Riddick Bowe, Tommy Morrison and Lennox Lewis are lining up for a shot at Robin Ventura? MICHAEL HANNIN Woodland Hills

For the second time in six days, boxer Tommy Morrison was hit with a blow more devastating than any he ever took in the ring. Shortly after 1 o'clock on Thursday afternoon, Morrison, surrounded by family, friends and associates on his ranch in Jay, Okla., was told that the result of a blood test administered by his chosen physician was the same as that determined last week by the Nevada State Athletic Commission: HIV-positive. But this time, Morrison's knees didn't buckle.

HIV-infected boxer Tommy Morrison made quick and easy work of last-minute opponent Marcus Rhode with a knockout one minute 38 seconds into the first round of a bloodless fight Sunday. The bout marked former heavyweight champion Morrison's first time back in the ring since announcing in February he had contracted the AIDS-causing virus. "I'm trying to get the message out as a boxer, trying to erase the fear of AIDS," Morrison (46-3-1) said at ringside moments after beating Rhode (15-1) of St.

Almost five years to the day that Magic Johnson stunned the nation by announcing that he was retiring from the Lakers because he had tested HIV-positive, an HIV-positive boxer stepped into a ring in Tokyo and knocked out his opponent in less than two minutes.

Heavyweight boxer Tommy Morrison, who tested positive for HIV earlier this year, says his return to the ring is safe and there is no cause for alarm. "I don't want to put anybody's life in danger," the 27-year-old Oklahoman said Friday. He said he never would have considered fighting again had he believed there was any chance of passing his infection in the ring. Morrison (45-3-1) is to fight Marcus Rhode (15-1) of St. Joseph, Mo., on the undercard of the George Foreman-Crawford Grimsley bout.

Exit Anthony Cooks. Enter Marcus Rhode. Tommy Morrison changed punching bags Wednesday, but he hasn't changed his mind about going ahead with Sunday's controversial heavyweight match in Japan even though Akio Yasuhara of the Japan Boxing Commission Foundation said his organization would almost certainly bar Morrison from boxing if it had the power to do so. At issue is the fact that Morrison is HIV-positive.

Think boxing has exhausted its supply of controversy, confusion and craziness? Wait until Sunday. If a heavyweight fight between two Oklahomans goes off as scheduled that day in Tokyo, there will be a fighter in one corner who has tested HIV-positive. In the other corner is scheduled to be a fighter who has two arrest warrants out for him, one for rape and the other on drug charges. In between them will be a referee possibly wearing protective goggles.

For those who have their doubts about the wisdom of heavyweight boxer Tommy Morrison's stepping back into the ring, even though he is HIV-positive, Morrison has some advice. "If people feel that way, they should sit in the fourth row," said Morrison, who signed Thursday to fight Anthony Cooks Nov. 3 in Tokyo. "Once people see what happens, they will realize it is no big deal." It is a big deal, however, to the world's most famous HIV-positive athlete, Magic Johnson.

For charity, for one last fight, for reasons that elude the rest of the boxing world, heavyweight Tommy Morrison says he is coming back to fight again, seven months after announcing he would retire after contracting HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. Morrison has no bout scheduled as of yet, and no opponent, but he told a Tulsa news conference Thursday afternoon that he hopes to fight by the spring and is returning to raise money for children who have the AIDS virus.

In the six weeks since he learned he has contracted HIV, former boxer Tommy Morrison has received more than 100 suggestions by mail on ways to overcome the disease. Morrison doesn't plan to follow any of them. He has also received advice from his doctors about AZT and other medication designed to fight HIV, which causes AIDS. Morrison doesn't plan to follow their advice either. Not yet, anyway. He has his own cure, for now.