RSSMorrison Tests Negative; Cleared to Fight in Texas
Former heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison’s most recent blood test has come back negative for HIV. Morrison is now cleared to take on Dale Ortiz in a four-round heavyweight bout this evening per ESPN:
Heavyweight Tommy Morrison was granted a boxing license in Texas on Thursday when his blood test came back negative for HIV. The negative test cleared the path for Morrison (47-3-1, 41 KOs) to face Dale Ortiz (3-1, 2 KOs) in a four-round fight Friday night at Houston’s Plaza Hotel in the second bout of his improbable comeback.
He arrived in Texas earlier this week and submitted to more testing.
“I got a verbal report that [the HIV test] is negative,” Dickie Cole of the Texas Department of Combative Sports told ESPN.com. “I’ll pick up the written report in the morning.”
Cole said he received the report from Dr. Jorge Guerrero, who is a Texas ringside physician.
“The doctor said he is clear and he won’t cause anyone any problems,” Cole said.
Morrison was tested last week in Arizona and the negative results were forwarded to Texas, Cole said. But Texas officials wanted to perform their own test.
“We ran a more intense test, a complete blood workup,” Cole said. “It was negative for HIV, hepatitis B and C. He’s licensed. We could have licensed him with the original blood work from Arizona a week ago. We got that written report, but we wanted our doctor to check him also. The doctor did that. He’s licensed in Texas and able to fight.”
If Morrison tested positive in 1996, how come he is constantly coming up negative now? Doctor Elizabeth Merrill takes a stab at trying to explain one of the possible reasons…
How could Tommy Morrison test positive for HIV in 1996 and pass a blood test now?
Medicine may have suppressed the virus to undetectable levels. Dr. Jeff Kirchner of the American Academy of HIV Medicine said the virus never goes away, but that drugs can put a patient in remission. “You can live a very healthy, very long life with this disease,” Kirchner said.
“[But] you’re positive for the rest of your life, even if you’re going very well and are in remission.”
Major Stories • Tommy Morrison Comeback • Weight Classes • Heavyweight • Tommy Morrison
Next entry: 50 Cent Lays Down $1 Million on Mayweather
Previous entry: De La Hoya Could Also Capture PPV Title Next Saturday
Comments