Boxing documentary about an interesting and shocking downhill story. Tommy Morrison seemed a fictional character: irresponsible and always drugged and drunk womanizer who did not care about practicing or taking care of his health and despite of everything never gave up and became a heavy-weight champ. However, it was real life. Outstanding defeats on the ring, the early destruction of his career, the decaying private life until the miserable death, the crazy beliefs... Even his media appeal (structural racism gives white boxers more media coverage, better fight opportunities and even a role in Hollywood) and his vicious left hooks were not enough to keep his career as long and successful as it was expected.
4 Reviews
It's a bit too dark for a sport documentary, but still good
JurijFedorov16 January 2022
It was an interesting watch as there is a lot happening. Yet it's way too macabra for a simple sports show episode.
Tommy played a magnificent bad guy in Rocky 5. I still think it's a bit underrated. Not a good movie, but quite watchable with a lot of great scenes too. Not the worst Rocky movie at least.
This episode is about Tommy as a supertalent, but he's also a Great White Hope meaning a dud. Tommy is from a poor White American family so basically lots of drinking, sleeping around, hustling for money, no education. And then he's this super talent who can easily become a world champ. Yet he drinks like crazy and sleeps with a new girl each night. He also has 2 long-term girlfriends who don't know about each other. Even in training camps he gets so drunk that he falls asleep in bars. This also means that he is beat up by lesser boxers when he doesn't train hard. He's making millions one fight beating George Foreman then loses to an amateur next time because he didn't train. He always drinks, always doesn't sleep well, but also does train hard in periods. And it continues until he signs a Mike Tyson fight deal. Before the fight can even happen he tests positive for HIV and can't fight anymore. He gets fake muscle implants, gets DUIs, starts doing drugs, often doesn't take his medicine, goes to prison, marries both his girlfriends who later divorce him, then finally he stops believing he has AIDS and dies from AIDS complications while being married to a woman who also doesn't believe he has it. Basically, he had periods where he didn't take his medicine and it killed him - I think. They are not exactly clear about what happened or when. We don't even know who gave him AIDS or who he might have given it to. But he slept with thousands of women in the 90's so he knew this would likely happen at some point.
I think it's a bit macabre and dark. It's not really about any success story. It's about wasting a talent by being stupid. And some of the scenes and stories are too dark for me.
Tommy played a magnificent bad guy in Rocky 5. I still think it's a bit underrated. Not a good movie, but quite watchable with a lot of great scenes too. Not the worst Rocky movie at least.
This episode is about Tommy as a supertalent, but he's also a Great White Hope meaning a dud. Tommy is from a poor White American family so basically lots of drinking, sleeping around, hustling for money, no education. And then he's this super talent who can easily become a world champ. Yet he drinks like crazy and sleeps with a new girl each night. He also has 2 long-term girlfriends who don't know about each other. Even in training camps he gets so drunk that he falls asleep in bars. This also means that he is beat up by lesser boxers when he doesn't train hard. He's making millions one fight beating George Foreman then loses to an amateur next time because he didn't train. He always drinks, always doesn't sleep well, but also does train hard in periods. And it continues until he signs a Mike Tyson fight deal. Before the fight can even happen he tests positive for HIV and can't fight anymore. He gets fake muscle implants, gets DUIs, starts doing drugs, often doesn't take his medicine, goes to prison, marries both his girlfriends who later divorce him, then finally he stops believing he has AIDS and dies from AIDS complications while being married to a woman who also doesn't believe he has it. Basically, he had periods where he didn't take his medicine and it killed him - I think. They are not exactly clear about what happened or when. We don't even know who gave him AIDS or who he might have given it to. But he slept with thousands of women in the 90's so he knew this would likely happen at some point.
I think it's a bit macabre and dark. It's not really about any success story. It's about wasting a talent by being stupid. And some of the scenes and stories are too dark for me.
True Boxing GEM do not miss this one!!!
sbjedovic29 June 2018
If you are true boxing fan then you certainly must watch this documentary if you decide to do that I guarantee that you will learn a lot about boxing but more important you will learn about life and how life can knock you down harder then any other heavy weight champion in this world....I dont want to use the spoilers so forget about me telling you all the "juice"details about this one cause that aint going to happened....also you should maybe watch this by yourself in the room because you might cry at the end.......
Literally shed tears
jcaamaya4 September 2019
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
