Once, he was best known as Tommy Gunn, the character from the famous movie Rocky V, which gave him fleeting popularity. But soon, Tommy “The Duke” Morrison made the world recognize his real name, thanks to the boxing skills that for years made him the “great white hope” of the sport.
Thomas David Morrison—known to all as Tommy—was born in Gravette, Arkansas, in 1969. A great-nephew of John Wayne, Tommy was the classic all-American boy: handsome, friendly, outgoing, and well-liked by everyone, especially women. His father was a boxer, as were his grandfather and great-grandfather before him. The path was already laid out.
Gifted enough to excel in every sport he tried, Tommy began boxing at a very young age—just thirteen—falsifying his documents so he could fight “legitimately” in local competitions against men twice his age. And he demolished them in the ring.
It was the 1980s, the golden age of American boxing. Tyson was the star, Holyfield and Lewis the rising forces, and the Rocky saga was drawing millions of new fans to the noble art.
Meanwhile, Tommy was making his mark as an amateur, racking up victory after victory. Between 1985 and 1988, he won 290 bouts, 263 of them by knockout. Sensational numbers that projected him straight into the professional ranks. ESPN noticed him and wasted no time putting him in prime time.
With an imposing physique, great power, and unusual speed in both torso and arms, Tommy possessed a devastating left hook. Deadly at close range, from where he unleashed powerful uppercuts and fast combinations, Morrison quickly established himself as a remarkable power-puncher.
A dominant rise—28 consecutive wins, 23 of them by knockout—made him the new name in American boxing. Hollywood noticed too. Tommy was chosen by Stallone for the role of Tommy Gunn: the reviews were positive—even though Morrison had no acting background—and the film considerably boosted his fame.
Talks soon began of a showdown with Mike Tyson. It was a dream matchup, two boxing superstars and knockout specialists. But just as the fight seemed within reach, Iron Mike’s shocking loss to James “Buster” Douglas brought everything crashing down.
Still, a title shot came for Tommy, against WBO champion Ray “Merciless” Mercer. Morrison started brilliantly, landing fast, powerful combinations on Mercer. But Mercer had an incredibly solid chin. He absorbed everything, and as soon as Morrison showed signs of fatigue, Mercer punished him with one of the most brutal knockouts in boxing history—exposing all of Morrison’s weaknesses: a shaky chin, a careless defense, and limited stamina.
Tommy disappeared for three months. In an interview, he admitted to living a rather reckless lifestyle but claimed he wanted to pick up where he had left off. What he didn’t say, however, was far more than what he confessed: he surrounded himself with the wrong people, abused alcohol and drugs, and was addicted to sex.
Nevertheless, his incredible athleticism allowed him to remain at the top. After a few comeback fights, he earned another shot at the world title, this time against the aging but still dangerous George Foreman. Tommy fought smart, moved constantly, avoided trading blows with Big George, and darted in and out with quick combinations that the slower champion could not match. Morrison won by unanimous decision. He was finally a world champion.
More fame, more money, more women. Tommy didn’t know how to say no, and the story—one that boxing had seen many times before—repeated itself. A fighter who loses his hunger and ambition is a finished fighter. Tommy kept fighting, but it was clear to everyone that he was no longer the same. He also lost a bit of himself: in just eighteen months his appearance changed dramatically—he looked puffier, bloated, aged. Gone was the image of the handsome, charismatic young winner. In the ring he still had power, but he had lost speed and mobility, which only highlighted his defensive flaws. An unexpected loss to Michael Bentt, a few wins over journeymen, and then his swan song: the victory against “Razor” Ruddock.
Then came Lennox Lewis, and the matchup was merciless. Morrison was knocked out in the sixth round.
Don King smelled an opportunity. He wanted to revive Tommy’s career and signed him to a $10 million deal for three fights. The first was supposed to be against Arthur “Stormy” Weathers, a minor opponent. But Tommy refused to undergo blood testing, claiming he was afraid of needles. The Nevada State Athletic Commission suspended him. With no other choice, he finally agreed to the tests. As soon as the results came in, he called a press conference.
It was February 15, 1996. Morrison appeared before the cameras with a vacant look in his eyes, and it was clear something was wrong. With a steady voice and great dignity, he uttered these words: “I have tested positive for HIV.”
His initial refusal to take the tests spoke louder than words. His mother would later reveal that Tommy had known about the virus for years, having been diagnosed during routine medical checks seven years earlier, when applying for life insurance.
Old friends and those who had surrounded him vanished. Tommy was left alone and frightened.
Magic Johnson, the legendary basketball star who was also HIV-positive, offered to help him. Thanks to Johnson, Tommy found a sense of purpose again. The two began touring America, visiting schools and warning young people about the dangers of HIV.
Tommy seemed reinvigorated. He returned to training, got back in shape, and with the help of HIV treatments, began to feel well again. He convinced himself that he had beaten the disease, so he stopped the medication. He slipped back into abusing alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamines, and the effects on his health were devastating.
Wasted by illness, forgotten, abandoned by most—Morrison became literally unrecognizable. His features resembled those of a frail, sixty-year-old man: emaciated, broken, and ragged. On September 1, 2013, Tommy died of cardiac arrest following the collapse of multiple internal organs.
He was only 44 years old.