Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 8, 1993 TAG: 9306080237
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LAS VEGAS LENGTH: Medium
Morrison used constant movement to hold off the plodding but big-hitting former heavyweight champion, piling up points all the while.
"I had great times in boxing and I'm proud of what I've done," Foreman said. "God bless boxing."
The 44-year-old preacher always seemed a step slow and a fraction of a second late in throwing his punches, and was never able to use the power that earned him 67 knockouts in 75 previous fights.
Foreman tried desperately to put his younger opponent away in the last few rounds. But Morrison didn't give him an angle to take advantage of his biggest weapons.
"We put in a lot of extra work to try and prepare for this because I know fighting someone as big and lumbering as George would be tough," Morrison said. "I'm just a little younger and a little quicker.
"George Foreman is a very hard puncher and has a devastating jab. You can't let him get set. That's the one thing my jab did, make him reset."
All three judges favored Morrison, and all by a wide margin. Judges Dalby Shirley and Patricia Jarman had it 117-110, and Jerry Roth scored it 118-109.
The loss was only the second for Foreman in 29 fights since he began his comeback six years ago after a decade outside the ring.
And it was probably his last. Foreman has signed for a television show on the fall TV schedule on which he plays a retired boxer.
Morrison, who at 20 years younger than Foreman entered the fight a pick-'em favorite, fought with skills he had not displayed in his 37 previous fights, 32 of which he had won by knockout.
Morrison came out at the opening bell throwing punches in spurts as he used movement to circle and at times run from Foreman.
The tactic worked well early, with Foreman unable to land any good punches until late in the second round, when he hit Morrison with a right to the head.
Foreman, his belly hanging over his trunks, continually moved forward, but was able to catch Morrison only long enough to land a punch or two before Morrison moved off.
"I almost started to knock him out," Foreman said. "But I said to myself `The kid's gone 12 rounds and I'm not even going to go for the knockout.' Then I realized I lost the fight."
The decision gave Morrison the lightly regarded WBO heavyweight title, the same crown Morrison had fought Ray Mercer for when he suffered his only loss in a devastating fifth-round knockout 18 months ago.
The victory set up a possible fight between Morrison and WBC heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, who watched from ringside along with WBA and IBF champion Riddick Bowe.
"Now I'm a more dedicated and mature athlete and I'll prove it to the world," Morrison said.
Although the judges handily favored Morrison, statistics showed he landed only 260 punches to 225 for the former champion. Morrison was the busier puncher, throwing 572 to 400 for Foreman.
Foreman, who was penalized a point in the 10th round for hitting below the belt, indicated he had not pressed the fight enough to stop Morrison, whose chin was suspect after the loss to Mercer and the two knockdowns he suffered in January at the hands of Carl Williams.
"I should have gone for the knockout," Foreman said after his record dropped to 72-4 in a professional career that began in 1969.
In the undercard, Olympic gold medalist Oscar De La Hoya continued his impressive romp through the professional ranks by stopping former featherweight champion Troy Dorsey on cuts after the first round. The right side of Dorsey's face was a bloody mess from a cut over his right eye as referee Mitch Halpern stopped the fight after the first round. It was the eighth straight win as a pro for De La Hoya.
In another undercard fight, Zack Padilla, 139 pounds, fought non-stop for 12 rounds to upset Carlos Gonzalez, 140, and win the WBO junior welterweight title. Padilla, 17-1-1, handed the Mexican champion his first loss in 37 fights.
by CNB