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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Boxer Keeps Quiet On Condition Reports That Morrison Has Hiv Virus Just ‘Speculation,’ Insists His Trainer

Michael Katz New York Daily News

The boxing world reeled Sunday night with news that popular heavyweight Tony Morrison has tested positive for the AIDS virus - but his trainer insisted that the report is just “speculation.”

And, said trainer Tommy Virgets, “we’re going to do everything we can to reverse” Morrison’s indefinite medical suspension by the Nevada State Athletic Commission after he failed a blood test last week.

A private test today could prove the Nevada test wrong, said Virgets, with whom Morrison shares an apartment in Tulsa, Okla. “Everything is speculation,” he said.

But one high-ranking Don King Productions executive suggested to the Daily News that Morrison - who was featured in “Rocky V” - may have known his condition before he failed last week’s test.

And a physician formerly with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said that while “false negatives” are frequent in HIV testing, positive tests are more than 99 percent accurate.

Marc Ratner, the executive director of the Nevada commission, announced only hours before Morrison’s scheduled fight Saturday night that the fighter was indefinitely suspended “around the world.”

Ratner made clear to reporters at the Don King card two nights ago that the suspension was not for drug use or steroids.

Sunday, Ratner told his Pennsylvania counterpart, “When we don’t reveal the results of the test, nine times out of 10 it’s AIDS.”

The Associated Press on Sunday also reported the positive HIV test, citing a source familiar with Morrison’s test.

Virgets denied that Morrison, who was prevented from fighting journeyman Arthur (Stormy) Weathers and from earning $50,000, knew he had been infected before taking the Nevada test Thursday.

The freewheeling heavyweight was to have taken the test Wednesday, the King employe told The News.

“He refused, saying it was against his religion,” said the King aide, who demanded anonymity. “But I know for a fact he had blood taken before.”

Virgets agreed Morrison had taken previous blood tests, but said it was always difficult to get him to do so. “Drawing blood,” said Virgets, was against the beliefs of Seventh-Day Adventists.

Bill Cayton, Morrison’s former manager, said the boxer had passed HIV tests as late as 1993 in Nevada, one of three states that require them.

That’s when Morrison scored his biggest victory of 45 victories, 29 by knockout, three defeats and one draw - a decision over George Foreman to win the lightly regarded World Boxing Organization heavyweight title.

His popularity was enhanced by a featured role in “Rocky V.” Cayton said one of Morrison’s problems was a refusal to take boxing seriously.