Former Heavyweight Titlist Tommy Morrison Dies at 44

90s heavyweight contender and former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison has died at the age of 44 after an extended illness.

According to his mother Diane, Morrison had been bed-ridden for the last year. Unable to speak, he was sustained through a feeding tube and breathing ventilator due to complications from Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a disease that effects the immune system and can result in paralysis. The death was broken earlier today through MMA Dirt and later confirmed via statements from Morrison’s wife Trish and former promoter Tony Holden.

Turning pro in 1988, Morrison burst onto the national with a thrilling victory over Joe Hipp in 1992. Suffering from a broken jaw, Morrison fought back to fracture Hipp’s cheekbone and score two knockdowns in route to a 9th round TKO. Morrison would win heavyweight gold a year later with a unanimous decision win over George Foreman to capture the vacant WBO belt. He made one defense before losing by a shocking first round TKO to Michael Bennt. Morrison’s last significant victory came in 1995 when he rose from a knockdown to drop Donovan “Razor” Ruddock and score a sixth round TKO.

His popularity extended outside the ring, resulting in Morrison landing the starring antagonist role in Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky V.

In 1996, Morrison was forced to retire after being diagnosed with HIV. Over the last decade, Morrison has denied he has HIV and the existence of the disease. He launched a comeback in 2007, fighting two fights in Mexico and West Virginia, after claiming a recent HIV test was negative.  In an exclusive story last week with ESPN, Morrison’s mother stated his final illness was the result of full-blown AIDS.

Morrison is survived by three sons, his wife, a brother and his mother. At press time, the cause of death has not been disclosed.