Tommy David Morrison (January 2, 1969 – September 1, 2013) was an American heavyweight boxer and a former World Boxing Organization champion. He lost only three out of a total of 52 professional fights. Morrison’s nickname, “The Duke,” is based on being a grandnephew of Hollywood star John Wayne. Morrison was a co-star with Sylvester Stallone in the 1990 boxing movie Rocky V.
Morrison’s professional boxing career ended in 2008, 12 years after he tested positive for HIV in 1996. Beginning in 2006, Morrison attempted a comeback after a 10-year hiatus, stating that his HIV diagnosis was negative.
Morrison had multiple convictions for driving under the influence, assault, and drugs and weapons charges.
Rocky V
In 1989, actor Sylvester Stallone observed one of Morrison’s bouts. 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. Originally an admirer of Rocky, Gunn’s successes led him to goad Rocky into a street fight.
Tommy Morrison cause of death
In August 2013, ESPN reported that Morrison was critically ill and had been bedridden for over a year.
On September 1, 2013, Morrison died at a hospital in Omaha, Nebraska. His family did not disclose the cause of death. Tommy Morrison was 44 years old at the time of his death.
Tommy Morrison KO’s