GEORGE FOREMAN battered another challenger for his world title yesterday and then said he was ready to take on HIV infected heavyweight Tommy Morrison who scored a first round knockout in his comeback.
Foreman and Morrison were the stars of a controversial and bizarre bill, that only half filled the 7,000 seat NK Hall next to the Tokyo Disneyland, and that also featured women who ended up boxing in blood covered Tshirts.
Foreman, now 47, said he might fight Morrison to avenge his loss in their World Boxing Organisation (WBO) title bout in June 1993.
"I'm ready to fight anybody, anywhere, anytime for a certain amount of money," he said after retaining his World Boxing Union (WBU) title with a unanimous decision win over fellow American Crawford Grimsley.
"Tommy Morrison did some thing very important today," he said. "He stepped in the ring and executed his profession. No one can say now what if, or maybe, or he should. It's done now.
Foreman could not put his title up at stake against Morrison however as the WBU will not sanction fights with HIV infected boxers.
Morrison (27) finished off Marcus Rhode in 98 seconds with three knock downs in his first fight since announcing in February that he had the Human Immune deficiency Virus.
"I got a lot of pressure off my shoulders," Morrison said after his fight which drew criticism from former US basketball superstar Magic Johnson, who is also HIV infected, and some boxing leaders.
Morrison won $500,000 in pay per view profits which he said would go to his foundation to help children with AIDS.
His record was stretched to 46 wins, 40 by a knockout, three losses and one draw.
He added: "I really want to fight [Foreman] again if the opportunity presents itself." And Foreman's publicist Mort Shrinick said Foreman had no anxiety or reluctance about fighting Morrison. "It's just a question of the promoter putting up sufficient money to make it possible."
He added that Foreman planned to end his career next year with a few more fights including one in Europe against an undecided opponent.
Morrison's fight would have been stopped if he suffered uncontrollable bleeding. Referee Frank Garza wore latex gloves but insisted this was nothing exceptional.
Rhode (24) reeled under the constant barrage of one two combinations. But he said: "There was no worry about HIV for me. It was blown out of proportion.
The American was a last minute replacement to scheduled opponent, Anthony Cooks, who has been accused of ape in the United States.
