The Ring Magazine/Getty Images
Tommy “The Machine” Gunn had just knocked out Union Kane to win the Heavyweight championship of the world. Well, sort of.
Outside of Hollywood, Tommy “The Duke” Morrison, said to be the great grand-nephew of John Wayne, was a professional fighter. Although only 22 years old and very early in his career, name notoriety had come quickly given his starring role alongside Sylvester Stallone in Rocky V.
Born in Gravette, Arkansas and now residing in Kansas City, Mo, Morrison had competed in and won several tough man competitions while in his teens. He lied about his age to enter those contests yet still emerged victorious on several occasions. He had also fought and won an area Golden Gloves competition.
Morrison later advanced to the 1988 Olympic trials where he met and lost a split decision to the older and more seasoned eventual Gold medalist, Ray Mercer.
Morrison would turn pro in November 1988. He would reel off 28 straight wins and clobber some recognizable names. He disposed of Lorenzo Canady, David Jaco, James Tillis and Pinklon Thomas. Many of his wins were by way of spectacular knockout.
Armed with a punishing, world-class left hook, Morrison (28-0, 23 KOs) had rolled through the competition. Although he had emerged as a dangerous challenger in the division, many still questioned his stamina as he had yet to be truly tested.
Most agreed that first true test would be against Mercer. Fighting out of Newark, NJ, Mercer learned to box in the United States Army. He compiled a 64-6 amateur record prior to winning the gold in Seoul, Korea.
After turning professional in February 1989, Mercer had blasted home 17 straight victories. His biggest wins were over Bert Coooper and in dramatic fashion, lifting the WBO title from Francesco Damiani.
Mercer displayed some Hollywood theatrics of his own against Damiani. Behind on all three scorecards, Mercer scored an unbelievable one punch knockout in the ninth round. The punch, a haymaker left uppercut, sent Damiani to the deck and unseated him as the WBO titleholder.
Now these two men, Mercer and Morrison, were on a collision course.
The fight was billed as “Test of Courage” and originally scheduled for August 9, 1991. After Morrison was cut in sparring, the bout was rescheduled for October 18.
Donald Trump’s Convention Center on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City, NJ would host the main event. The packed house was chalked full of raucous Mercer and Morrison fans, many holding signs like “Mercer is the Greatest” and waving flags emblazoned with “Tommy”. The festive atmosphere also produced an electric crackle as they awaited the ring entrances.
Morrison (28-0, 24 KOs), as is customary for the challenger, made his way to the ring first. Wearing black trunks with stars and bars, he appeared to be in fantastic shape and tipped the scales at a ready 221 pounds.
Mercer (17-0, 12 KOs) wasted little time in exiting his dressing room. The 30-year-old champion wore white trunks with black and gold trim and looked solid at 225 pounds.
After both men were in the ring, Michael Buffer unloaded his traditional “let’s get ready to rumble” and then introduced the fighters. The crowd in attendance demonstrated vocal support of their fighters, cheering wildly while still hoisting signs and waving flags as they were now in the ring.
Referee Tony Perez, officiating his 75th world title bout, gave instructions at center ring. Neither man had ever been of his feet and both were undefeated.
Nearly everyone inside the Convention Center was on their feet and ready.
The fight was televised on TVKO pay-per-view with Len Berman and Joe Goossen ringside to call the action.
The bell sounded and the fight was underway. Morrison pressed the action early, pushing Mercer back and unloaded bombs. His combinations flowed and the left hook was effective early and often. Morrison looked as cool as an assassin and challenged the more experienced Mercer from the opening bell.
The Ring Magazine/Getty Images
The second round was a near mirror image of the first. A Morrison combination hurt Mercer just one minute into the round. The champion fought back when he could and now had blood in his mouth and around his lips. An explosive Morrison was workman-like in hammering both the head and the body.
After two rounds, Morrison was easily up 20-18 by most scoring the bout. He was out throwing the champion and landing the harder, more effective punches.
As the third frame got underway, Morrison went back to work. Midway through the round, the crowd let out a resounding ovation as they recognized their host, Mr. Trump, was making his way to his seat.
While “The Donald” got seated, the flow of blood continued from Mercer’s mouth and it was now dripping from his chin. As the round came to a close, Mercer unloaded a thunderous chopping right hand catching a surprised Morrison flush on his chin. As the bell sounded, Mercer had lost his third consecutive round but left his challenger with a nice parting gift to ponder between rounds.
Into the fourth, Mercer began to make his move and turn the tide. Morrison seemed to be breathing heavily as his mouth was wide open. “The Duke” seemed more overanxious in the fourth, missing wildly as he pressed the action. Looking confused and winded, he was no longer controlling the action as he had in the first nine minutes.
Mercer had easily won his first round of the night.
As the bell sounded to begin the fifth, both fighters met at mid ring. As Morrison chased Mercer into a corner to reclaim some of his early success, Mercer caught him with a good right hand. As Morrison staggered, and before he could clear his head, he was now backed into the corner. As Mercer moved in he began launching heat-seeking bombs at Morrison.
A flurry of rights and lefts to the head buckled Morrison’s legs. His face was a mask of bewilderment as he began to crumble to the canvas. As Perez moved in to halt the action, Mercer landed one final punishing left hook. Morrison crashed face first to the deck after absorbing 18 consecutive blows.
Photo by Al Bello
Just 28 seconds into the fifth round, the fight was over and “Merciless” Ray had retained his WBO crown.
As Mercer celebrated with his team, Morrison was helped onto a stool. As doctors began to examine him, he placed his gloves by his cheeks in a peek-a-boo style and began to rock side by side while still seated. Clearly incoherent, a microphone near ringside picked up a voice telling the confused Morrison, “Fight’s over Tommy. Fight’s over.”
Mercer would go on to fight another 17 years. He would battle top flight opponents like Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield, Wladimir Klitchko and Tim Witherspoon. He would later try his hand in both mixed martial arts and kickboxing. He retired from the prize ring in 2008.
Morrison would also fight his last fight in the ring in 2008. He too fought a who’s who of boxing royalty. He won the WBO crown from George Foreman and scrapped with Lewis, Razor Ruddock and Carl Williams. He would later be suspended by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after testing positive for HIV. Tragically, and much too soon, he passed on September 1, 2013.
Neither man lacked courage and provided fight fans with long lasting memories.
