chop
11-01-2006, 03:34 AM
By Mark Vester
The talk of a comeback for Tommy Morrison is over, now it's time for some action. The Mercury News reports that former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison is planning to apply for a boxing license in Nevada within the next week.
Morrison, diagnosed with HIV over a decade ago, is still claiming that he never had the virus, and that his prefight blood test for his 1996 bout with Arthur Weathers resulted a false-postive or was rigged by a rival promoter out to get him. Morrison's ex-wife Dawn, claimed that the fighter was indeed HIV positive, but at the same time she does not have the virus and was maintaining a sexual relationship with him after he was diagnosed with the virus.
Morrison is said be to around 224-pounds, and ready to fight as soon as possible.
Morrison's attorney Randy Lang contacted Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, about Morrison obtaining his boxing license.
"He basically said (one of) three things are true here," Kizer says. "Either Tommy never had HIV or he had it and cured himself of it. Or he had it, it was at a contagious level, and through therapy it's at such a low level it's not contagious."
It was told to Morrison's lawyer that if the fighter tests positive for HIV, he will not be allowed to box in Nevada, and most states will follow their decision. Should that happen, Lang may sue Nevada for discrimination.
"If Morrison was subjected to any medical limitation issues, each boxing commission is pre-empted by federal law," Lang says. "For instance, if he had cancer, he would fall under the Americans with Disabilities laws, which pre-empt state boxing laws, and they would be required to accommodate his disability. If he had HIV, it would be the same thing."
Morrison won't reveal the results on recent HIV tests, as advised by his attorney in the event that a lawsuit does transpire.
"I tell people I'm going to win an Oscar, and they laugh at me," he says. "I told them I was going to win a heavyweight championship, too, and they laughed. And I won two of those. A lot of people doubt that I have anything left. But one thing they're forgetting is that I haven't been fighting for 10 years. I've been resting. I'll go down in history. It's going to happen. Then I'll become a legend," Morrison said.
The talk of a comeback for Tommy Morrison is over, now it's time for some action. The Mercury News reports that former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison is planning to apply for a boxing license in Nevada within the next week.
Morrison, diagnosed with HIV over a decade ago, is still claiming that he never had the virus, and that his prefight blood test for his 1996 bout with Arthur Weathers resulted a false-postive or was rigged by a rival promoter out to get him. Morrison's ex-wife Dawn, claimed that the fighter was indeed HIV positive, but at the same time she does not have the virus and was maintaining a sexual relationship with him after he was diagnosed with the virus.
Morrison is said be to around 224-pounds, and ready to fight as soon as possible.
Morrison's attorney Randy Lang contacted Keith Kizer, executive director of the Nevada Athletic Commission, about Morrison obtaining his boxing license.
"He basically said (one of) three things are true here," Kizer says. "Either Tommy never had HIV or he had it and cured himself of it. Or he had it, it was at a contagious level, and through therapy it's at such a low level it's not contagious."
It was told to Morrison's lawyer that if the fighter tests positive for HIV, he will not be allowed to box in Nevada, and most states will follow their decision. Should that happen, Lang may sue Nevada for discrimination.
"If Morrison was subjected to any medical limitation issues, each boxing commission is pre-empted by federal law," Lang says. "For instance, if he had cancer, he would fall under the Americans with Disabilities laws, which pre-empt state boxing laws, and they would be required to accommodate his disability. If he had HIV, it would be the same thing."
Morrison won't reveal the results on recent HIV tests, as advised by his attorney in the event that a lawsuit does transpire.
"I tell people I'm going to win an Oscar, and they laugh at me," he says. "I told them I was going to win a heavyweight championship, too, and they laughed. And I won two of those. A lot of people doubt that I have anything left. But one thing they're forgetting is that I haven't been fighting for 10 years. I've been resting. I'll go down in history. It's going to happen. Then I'll become a legend," Morrison said.