TOMMY MORRISON will not face a different opponent when the HIV infected US heavyweight returns to the ring in Tokyo this weekend. Marcus Rhode takes over from Anthony Cooks, who is on his way back to Oklahoma where he.is wanted by law enforcement authorities.
Rhode (24), who has won 15 of his 16 contests, all by knockout, is expected to provide a much sterner test. He began his professional career in June last year and has fought 11 times this year, most recently on October 14th when he won by technical knockout in the first round. None of his fights have lasted more than four rounds.
"Rhode is a much better fighter than Cooks," said promoter Ron Weathers. "He's a big, strong guy."
Morrison admitted to being concerned over the change of opponent and said: "It worries me. He has a little better record than I intended on fighting (in the first bout of a comeback)."
The 27 year old also said he hopes at some point to fight George Foreman whose bout with Crawford Grimsley he is supporting. "There's interest on both sides," Morrison said. "I certainly have to knock off a lot of rust. It's been over a year since I've been in the ring. I'm not in tip top shape, that's for sure. This will allow me to knock off some rust."
The bout will be Morrison's first since he was stopped by Lennox Lewis in the sixth round in October 1995. Morrison learned he was HIV positive in February.
Morrison's return to the ring was strongly criticised by the head of the World Boxing Union (WBU). "I am not happy to have anyone with that illness in boxing," said Jon Robinson, the president of the WBU, as he arrived in Tokyo yesterday for the heavyweight title bout between George Foreman and Crawford Grimsley.
"There is more blood in boxing than in any other sport," he said. "We are a family sport. We have children watching this sport," said Robinson, a long time British boxing writer who started up the new governing body in late 1994. "It will damage the sport because there is a family angle to it."
Robinson said that the WBU had no hand in arranging Morrison's comeback match and that his organisation bars fighters with the virus to avoid any medical risks.
. Joe Frazier has extended an olive branch to Muhammad Ali in a bid to end decades of feuding between the two former heavyweight champions.
The bickering between the legends has continued since the last of their three epic bouts, the "Thrilla in Manila" on October 1st, 1975.
Frazier, speaking in New York for his induction into the Madison Square, Garden Walk of Fame, said: "It's about time to bring it to an end. I don't feel that I'm too big I can't say I'm sorry."
In a message to 54 year old Ali, who suffers from Parkinson's syndrome, Frazier added: "I'm willing to say I'm sorry if I said anything to hurt you.
"We got to do it, before we all close our eyes, because I want to see him in heaven."
The 52 year old's conciliatory words clash with the rancorous remarks he made in his recent autobiography, Smokin Joe. He wrote of Ali: "Truth is, I'd like to rumble with that sucker again - beat him up piece by piece and mail him back to Jesus.
But Frazier has admitted his harsh words have always been in retaliation to Ali's remarks, which included calling him an Uncle Tom before the first fight in 1971.
