Former heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison dies at the age of 44

Former heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison died late Sunday at the age of 44, several publications reported.

There was no official cause of death released, though Morrison’s health had been poor for some time. He twice tested positive for the HIV virus in 1996, but he denied having the virus and said they were false positives. He was even cleared to fight twice years after those tests – in 2007 in West Virginia and in 2008 in Mexico.

Morrison, who compiled a record of 48-3-1 with 42 knockouts, won the vacant World Boxing Organization title with a unanimous decision over George Foreman in June 1993. Morrison lost his title to Michael Bentt in his second defense in October 1993.

Morrison co-starred in Rocky V, playing the role of heavyweight Tommy “Machine” Gunn.

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