Boxing: Morrison tests HIV positive

Boxing

The British heavyweight Lennox Lewis has been advised to take an Aids test after the promoter, Tony Holden, confirmed last night that Tommy Morrison, had tested HIV positive.

Morrison was "medically suspended" hours before he was due to fight in Las Vegas on Saturday. The bout would have been his first since October, when he was stopped in a bloody encounter with Lewis.

Panos Eliades, who handles Lewis's affairs, said Lewis was in Jamaica and had not heard about the suspension. "We'd better get our man in there [for testing]," Eliades said. "There was a lot of blood in that fight."

Nevada officials refused to give reasons why Morrison had been suspended and Holden revealed that Morrison was undergoing further tests last night to confirm the results after only one test was given in Las Vegas, which Morrison failed and was checked twice.

"I understand that there are several people concerned about me. I am fine," said the 27-year-old in a statement read by Holden. "I feel it would be selfish to ask you to say a prayer for me."