TOMMY MORRISON DEBUTS NEW “MMA” MOVE: THE HIV TRANSFER
Posted on | June 21, 2007 | 15 Comments
TOMMY MORRISON DEBUTS NEW “MMA” MOVE: THE HIV TRANSFER
By: Charlie Schmidt
First of all, yes, I do believe that Tommy Morrison has HIV. His former agent, Randy Lang, more or less confirmed this to an Arizona newspaper in the days before Tommy’s first “MMA” bout. In addition, there are tons of interviews and television features over the last decade that detail Morrison and how he lives with the virus.
Now, as he seeks some new opportunities (READ: PAYDAYS) in the ring/octagon, Morrison claims that he actually never had the virus and was the victim of a false positive…a false positive that apparently has occurred over and over. Morrison claims the fact that he is still alive and healthy is proof of his not having the HIV virus. If you know anything about the virus, you know that it can take many years for the disease to cause the AIDS virus and the extreme stages of illness that come along with it. One can contract the HIV virus and not only show no signs of illness but also test negative when given the anti-body test for many, many years.
So yes, Tommy Morrison most likely has HIV.
And now he wants to fight “MMA.” Notice the quotes around the “MMA.” Tommy Morrison did not fight an MMA bout this weekend. He fought a hands only striking bout in the cage against an unskilled fighter in a bout so foul and unprofessional that it could only be held on Reservation land, away from the jurisdiction of the Arizona Boxing Commission.
Tommy Morrison does not want to fight MMA. He wants to box, but can’t because most if not all Athletic Commissions will test him for HIV before he gets a license to fight. As a result, his only chance of a pay day is to fight in a modified rules bout on Tribal land, where the rules of the bout will favor him and he can fight while stricken with any number of dangerous communicable diseases.
In all fairness, the likelihood of transferring HIV in a fight is not great, but it is still a possibility. According to the Doctor that I consulted, a transfer of the virus would most likely occur if both fighters had open wounds that came into direct contact with each other. The risk might not be great, but it’s the kind of risk most fighters are smart enough to avoid.
MMA doesn’t need Tommy Morrison and his BS. I’m not one to call for a boycott, but lets all do our best to not let people turn our growing sport into a circus.
If Tommy Morrison really wants to fight MMA, at least make him fight MMA, and make him go through the proper testing by the appropriate medical professionals.
If not, at least put him against someone who can slam him and choke him out of our sport for good.
Talk soon.