Hiv-Infected Morrison Says Fight Worries Overblown

HIV-infected heavyweight boxer Tommy Morrison says his return to the ring this weekend is safe and there is no cause for alarm.

“I don’t want to put anybody’s life in danger,” the 27-year-old Oklahoman said Friday, appearing relaxed and confident.

He said he never would have considered fighting again had he believed there was any chance of passing his infection in the ring.

Morrison (45-3-1) is to fight Marcus Rhode (15-1) of St. Joseph, Mo., on the undercard of the George Foreman-Crawford Grimsley bout. The Morrison-Rhode bout is expected to begin about 8 p.m. PST tonight, followed by the main event.

Morrison quit the ring in February after testing positive for HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The fight will be the former WBO world champion’s first in more than a year.