Tommy Morrison vs Tim Tomashek

Tommy Morrison retained his World Boxing Organisation heavyweight title in unusual circumstances at Kemper Arena, Kansas City, on August 30, 1993, when Tim Tomashek was retired after four rounds. Morrison’s intended opponent, Mike Williams, withdrew about an hour before the contest. Williams claimed to have suffered back spasms, although two doctors reportedly found no injury, while promoter Bob Arum said the fighter had refused a pre-fight drug test. Tomashek was not an ordinary spectator chosen at random, as the story has sometimes been told. He had been summoned from Green Bay two days earlier as a precaution after Williams missed promotional engagements, and was paid $2,500 merely to be available. Believing he would not be required, he sat among the crowd and drank a beer until his manager told him that he was fighting for the championship.

Morrison entered at 226 pounds with a record of 37 victories and one defeat. Tomashek, a 28-year-old department-store worker and seasoned travelling journeyman, weighed 205 pounds and had won 34 of his 44 contests. His record included distance defeats by Francois Botha and future cruiserweight champion Anaclet Wamba, so he was neither a novice nor a man entirely without ability. Nevertheless, he had undertaken no proper training for Morrison and entered the ring wearing trunks carried over from an earlier contest. The crowd, which had come to see Morrison make the first defence of the title he had won from George Foreman twelve weeks earlier, loudly expressed its displeasure when Arum announced Williams’s departure. An offer of refunds was made, but few had any wish to leave before seeing the local favourite.

Tomashek began awkwardly but without fear, moving unpredictably and darting forward with clusters of left hands. Morrison remained measured, pawing with his jab and studying an opponent about whom he knew almost nothing. Tomashek lacked the weight and power to trouble the champion seriously, but his eccentric movement and willingness to punch prevented Morrison from settling immediately. He repeatedly acknowledged the crowd and returned to his corner at the end of the round with an air of exaggerated confidence. The official judges, Frank Cairo, Ismael Fernandez and Wendell Allen, nevertheless gave the opening round to Morrison.

The pattern remained much the same in the second. Morrison controlled the distance with his left jab while Tomashek moved in and out, throwing quick, untidy flurries before attempting to escape. Late in the round their heads came together, with Morrison appearing chiefly responsible for the collision. Tomashek raised a glove in a conciliatory gesture and was struck firmly on the chin before the action moved on. The challenger complained little and continued to make himself an inconvenient target, but Morrison’s greater weight, balance and accuracy were steadily becoming evident. All three judges again scored the round for the champion.

There were boos during the third round as Morrison continued to proceed cautiously against a man expected to be removed almost at once. Tomashek, to his credit, did not retreat into complete survival. He stood before Morrison for long periods and attempted to outwork him, though most of his punches struck gloves and arms or lacked sufficient force to interrupt the champion. Morrison’s body punches had a more obvious effect, causing Tomashek to tighten his elbows and pause before resuming his attacks. The contest was competitive only in that Tomashek remained willing; in effective punching, it belonged wholly to Morrison. After three rounds, Cairo, Fernandez and Allen each had Morrison ahead by 30–27.

Morrison applied greater pressure in the fourth and began landing cleanly with both hands. His left hooks and right crosses drove Tomashek backwards, opened cuts on his face and brought swelling around both eyes. Tomashek’s legs shook under the heavier blows, but he continued throwing when able and attempted to answer Morrison’s combinations. Near the close, Morrison put together a sustained attack to the head, finishing with the combination that sent Tomashek down on his knees. The challenger rose quickly and was spared further punishment by the bell, then returned to his stool with his chest raised and his glove shaking towards the crowd as he had done after the earlier rounds. His face, however, gave a more accurate account of the contest: his nose was bloodied, his eyes were bruised and swollen, and he had absorbed a severe beating during the final three minutes.

The ringside physician and referee Danny Campbell would not permit Tomashek to answer the bell for the fifth round, making the official result a retirement at 3 minutes of the fourth. Morrison improved his record to 38–1, while Tomashek fell to 34–11. The crowd booed the stoppage, but it was the correct decision. Tomashek wished to continue, yet courage could not alter the growing disparity in strength or the damage already visible around his eyes. He was paid $40,000 for the contest in addition to his standby fee, rather than the often-repeated claim that he fought for only $2,500. Morrison had retained his belt without gaining anything of competitive value, while Tomashek emerged with credit for entering at an hour’s notice and lasting longer than almost anyone had expected.

This reads like a ‘Rocky Balboa’ script, but even though Tomashek was paid to come along as a standby opponent, it’s still an amazing story.

Morrison had earned respect by changing his usual approach and outboxing George Foreman for the title in his previous outing. Mike Williams, Morrison’s scheduled opponent, pulled out at the last minute, leaving standby opponent Tomashek to climb from the crowd after drinking beer. He was not some random spectator; he was a 34–10 professional, but he had not trained for Morrison.

Tomashek was awkward, willing and brave, but badly outgunned. Morrison controlled him with the jab before the hooks and right hands began cutting him up. By the fourth, Tomashek’s face was damaged, his legs had gone, and he was put down. The doctor stopped it correctly. There was no merit in allowing a tough journeyman to be beaten senseless. Morrison won, but boxing embarrassed itself by calling it a championship defence.