Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 2, 1993 TAG: 9306020059
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Long
During Tommy Morrison's fishing visits to the Maury River in recent weeks, he has constantly thought about reeling in a big one.
If he wants to land George Foreman, however, it will take more than Morrison's strong left hook.
For seven weeks, Morrison lived at VMI to train for Monday's World Boxing Organization heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas against Foreman. Asked about being welcomed as a distinguished visitor on the post, Morrison said, "It's like being in prison."
That was no jab at incarcerated former champ Mike Tyson. In fact, if Morrison can whip Foreman and put himself two wins from the undisputed heavyweight title, he plans on serving more time at VMI.
"The facilities and people are great," said Morrison, whose second stay at VMI ended during the weekend when he headed to Vegas. "It's a small place, with few distractions. For seven weeks you eat, sleep and live boxing. Perfect."
Morrison, an Oklahoma native and Kansas City, Mo., resident, connected to VMI through Tom Virgets, who has trained the heavyweight since December 1990. Virgets formerly coached at VMI in several sports. Now, his role is one-dimensional.
"I want to be the heavyweight champion of the world, period," Morrison said. "It's a long, hard road, but I'm not going to bitch and moan. This is the type of situation a fighter loves to be in."
Morrison thought he was there two years ago. Boxing's latest blond bomber was only 22, but already known as a cousin of late actor John Wayne, with a role opposite Sylvester Stallone in "Rocky V." He was billed as the next "Great White Hope."
It took only until the fifth round of an October 1991 fight before Ray Mercer had Morrison seeing stars of another kind. It was Morrison's first - and only - pro loss, and more.
"No, I didn't blow it," Morrison said. "What it was was the biggest learning opportunity I've ever had. I needed some direction. It woke me. It shook me. I wasn't a 100 percent dedicated athlete.
"I was coming off starring in a motion picture and I had a name, and I soaked all of that up a little too much. I stayed out late. Before that, my first 21, 22, 23 fights, I didn't fight anybody, either. I needed later rounds.
"If Mercer stopped by here today, I'd hug him. He made me a more complete fighter."
It's sometimes forgotten that the 6-foot-2, 225-pounder has been a professional boxer for less than five years. Against Foreman, he will give up 2 inches, who knows how many pounds and two decades of experience.
When Foreman first stepped into a pro ring in June 1969, Morrison was 6 months old.
"I've heard the rumors and the whispers, and I understand that Foreman is the most popular fighter right now, that he's a big part of American boxing history," said Morrison, who is 36-1 with 32 knockouts. "As I look at him, from my perspective, he's very beatable.
"My defensive skills are better than when I fought Mercer, better than Foreman's, too. Foreman has made his comeback, but except for Evander Holyfield (a 12-round decision for then-champ Holyfield), who has he fought but a bunch of taxicab drivers?"
Foreman (72-3, 67 KOs) is guaranteed $7 million from this bout. Morrison will get $1.25 million. Morrison knows, with a victory, his next payday could be for another title fight against Lennox Lewis or Riddick Bowe.
"This fight is very pivotal, a great, great opportunity for me," Morrison said. "I'm only 24, so I have time, but you don't keep getting these opportunities."
When Morrison went into the ring with Mercer, he was thinking that his next fight would bring riches and TV commercials. Those dreams ended up on the canvas with him.
The sweet science itself would prosper with a Morrison victory over Foreman that could prod a heavyweight division that has its major attraction behind bars in Indiana.
Bowe's solid-citizen status has been good for the sport, although his title defenses should have been scheduled in tomato canneries. Morrison is the only current contender who could eclipse Tyson as a heavyweight in the attraction department.
He knows why - Morrison is trying to become the first American-born white boxer to hold the heavyweight championship since Rocky Marciano defended his title against Archie Moore in 1955. He doesn't have to like it.
"Publicists and managers are going to say what they're going to say, about me being the Great White Hope, but I wish people would get off that," Morrison said. "It's a racial statement, and there are enough racist things going on in this country today.
"I understand there's more attention because I'm the only white fighter who's a contender, but what's so great about being the Great White Hope? Think of the recent ones - Gerry Cooney, Jerry Quarry, Duane Bobick. They never won the title.
"If that's me, then I'll never reach my goal."
by CNB