Victorious Morrison Booed In MMA Debut

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. (AP) -- Former heavyweight champion and Oklahoma native Tommy Morrison won his Mixed Martial Arts debut but lost the crowd in a fight at Camp Verde, Arizona.<br/><br/>Fighting in a cage

Sunday, June 10th 2007, 3:44 pm

By: News On 6

CAMP VERDE, Ariz. (AP) -- Former heavyweight champion and Oklahoma native Tommy Morrison won his Mixed Martial Arts debut but lost the crowd in a fight at Camp Verde, Arizona.

Fighting in a cage last night, Morrison knocked out John Stover at 2:08 of the first round. Boos rained down as a panting Morrison raised his hand after breaking Stover's nose with a straight right.

Although the unsanctioned bout was fought on an MMA card at Cliff Castle Casino, it had little of the rough-and-tumble associated with the sport. That apparently stoked the ire of the crowd estimated at 2,500.

MMA fights typically allow grappling and striking with the knees and feet, but Stover said he was told that wouldn't be allowed in the bout with Morrison.

The 38-year-old Morrison, who is from Jay, Oklahoma, has been attempting a comeback after an 11-year retirement following the discovery that he was HIV positive.