BYU 14
06-08-2007, 09:42 PM
Though Tommy Morrison continues to claims his 1996 HIV test was a false positive, his former agent is now indicating that was not true. This comes right before he makes his MMA debut here in Arizona.
Ex-agent: Morrison HIV positive
Norm Frauenheim
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 8, 2007 05:29 PM
Tommy Morrison's former agent said Friday that the ex-heavyweight champion was positive for the HIV virus in mandatory blood tests for a boxing license.
"Tommy has tested positive for the HIV antibodies and he always has,'' said Randy Lang, who said he split with Morrison on Feb. 25 because the tests had been misrepresented by the boxer and his promoter, Peter McKinn.
Morrison is scheduled to make his mixed martial arts debut Saturday on a McKinn-promoted card in Camp Verde at Cliff Castle Casino, which is outside the Arizona State Boxing Commission's jurisdiction.
Morrison said again Thursday that he has never tested positive and that the initial diagnosis in 1996 before a scheduled bout in Las Vegas was a false-positive.
"All the blood tests came from Randy Lang and, as far as I saw on the paperwork sent by Lang, the results were zero-negative,'' McKinn said.
Lang said the evidence of HIV in various tests was so low that the virus could not be transmitted in the ring if both fighters were injured and exchanged blood in a collision.
"That has always been my position, and it's the appropriate one,'' Lang said.
Lang, of Glendale, witnessed tests in Phoenix in January that were reported to be negative. The tests, witnessed also by McKinn and John Montano or the Arizona State Boxing Commission, were supposed to have been the basis for a West Virginia license that allowed Morrison to fight and beat John Castle. However, Lang alleges that either the documentation was fraudulent or that the blood samples were switched.
In late April, Morrison was scheduled for a bout in Houston. He underwent blood tests, but the paper was reported to have never arrived in time for Texas authorities to grant him a license. The tests were reported to be negative.
Morrison and McKinn said that Lang has misrepresented himself. McKinn said he is not a licensed attorney. Lang said Friday that he graduated form the American College of Law, now located in Anaheim, Calif.
Ex-agent: Morrison HIV positive
Norm Frauenheim
The Arizona Republic
Jun. 8, 2007 05:29 PM
Tommy Morrison's former agent said Friday that the ex-heavyweight champion was positive for the HIV virus in mandatory blood tests for a boxing license.
"Tommy has tested positive for the HIV antibodies and he always has,'' said Randy Lang, who said he split with Morrison on Feb. 25 because the tests had been misrepresented by the boxer and his promoter, Peter McKinn.
Morrison is scheduled to make his mixed martial arts debut Saturday on a McKinn-promoted card in Camp Verde at Cliff Castle Casino, which is outside the Arizona State Boxing Commission's jurisdiction.
Morrison said again Thursday that he has never tested positive and that the initial diagnosis in 1996 before a scheduled bout in Las Vegas was a false-positive.
"All the blood tests came from Randy Lang and, as far as I saw on the paperwork sent by Lang, the results were zero-negative,'' McKinn said.
Lang said the evidence of HIV in various tests was so low that the virus could not be transmitted in the ring if both fighters were injured and exchanged blood in a collision.
"That has always been my position, and it's the appropriate one,'' Lang said.
Lang, of Glendale, witnessed tests in Phoenix in January that were reported to be negative. The tests, witnessed also by McKinn and John Montano or the Arizona State Boxing Commission, were supposed to have been the basis for a West Virginia license that allowed Morrison to fight and beat John Castle. However, Lang alleges that either the documentation was fraudulent or that the blood samples were switched.
In late April, Morrison was scheduled for a bout in Houston. He underwent blood tests, but the paper was reported to have never arrived in time for Texas authorities to grant him a license. The tests were reported to be negative.
Morrison and McKinn said that Lang has misrepresented himself. McKinn said he is not a licensed attorney. Lang said Friday that he graduated form the American College of Law, now located in Anaheim, Calif.