Mother of Tommy Morrison Makes Heartfelt Plea to the Public to Stop Unauthorized Documentary, Details Rift With Widow

By Matthew Brown

11/11/2025

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Diane Morrison, the mother of late former WBO Heavyweight Champion Tommy “The Duke” Morrison, has come forward with an emotional public statement, pleading for the halt of an upcoming documentary about her son that she says misrepresents his life and death.

Morrison, a talented heavyweight contender known for his explosive power and charisma, rose to fame in the 1990s with wins over George Foreman and Donovan “Razor” Ruddock, as well as his memorable role opposite Sylvester Stallone in Rocky V. However, his career was derailed in 1996 after testing positive for HIV — a diagnosis that both he and his wife, Trisha Harding-Morrison, publicly disputed for years.

Despite a brief comeback attempt in 2007, Morrison’s health deteriorated, and he passed away in 2013 at the age of 44. His story remains one of boxing’s most tragic — a tale of brilliance, denial, and heartbreak.

Now, more than twelve years after his passing, a new controversy has surfaced. Diane Morrison has publicly condemned a documentary in production titled I Am Tommy Morrison, which she says is being driven by her son’s widow, Trisha Harding, and filled with falsehoods.

“This is an extremely sad message and unfortunately, it’s true,” Diane Morrison began in her statement. “With a heavy heart, I write this not because I want to, but because I feel I must. My name is Diane Morrison, and I am the mother of Tommy Morrison. Many of you knew him as the heavyweight boxing champion, Tommy ‘The Duke’ Morrison. My son has been gone for more than twelve years. Yet it still feels like yesterday.”

According to Morrison, Harding, who married Tommy while he was battling drug dependency and declining health, has continued to control her son’s estate and has used his name to promote conspiracy theories claiming he never had HIV. Morrison says the upcoming documentary perpetuates those same falsehoods.

“Trisha Harding, who my son married while he was battling drugs and in a confused state of mind, has taken control of Tommy’s estate, pushing her conspiracy theories for self-fame,” she said. “Now Trisha, who is from England, has convinced a UK producer to make a documentary titled I Am Tommy Morrison. She’s attended WBC conventions, getting major champions and boxing figures to do interviews. They believe they are giving a tribute to my son — and I so much appreciate that — but they don’t know this documentary will be filled with Trisha’s conspiracy theories that Tommy never had HIV, and this documentary needs to be stopped.”

Morrison says the documentary, currently in production and expected to release next year, will be based on “false information” and “coverups” that distort the truth of her son’s life and death. She has called on anyone who has been interviewed for the film to request that their footage be removed.

In her lengthy statement, Morrison detailed the painful final years of her son’s life — his illness, his struggles with addiction, and what she describes as the emotional and logistical turmoil caused by Harding after his passing.

She recalled caring for Tommy during his final months and described the heartbreak of being denied the opportunity to bring his body home for burial after his death.

“Trisha refused to let us bring his body home for a proper burial,” Morrison said. “She said she would have his ashes put into necklaces and tour the country to give them to his friends and fans, claiming it was what Tommy wanted. Maybe he said that once, in a confused and delusional state of mind, but I know my son. In his right mind, he would never have wanted that.”

According to Diane, Harding later cremated Tommy and promised to send a portion of his ashes to the family.  That promise, she says, was never fulfilled.

The family’s disputes did not end there. Morrison alleges Harding took control of the late fighter’s estate and possessions, keeping a storage unit full of his memorabilia away from his sons. She also accused Harding of manipulating HIV test results, concealing positive diagnoses, and spreading misinformation about Tommy’s medical history.

“I saw the doctor’s reports. I knew what my son was going through,” Morrison said. “Even when Tommy was in denial, he was quietly taking HIV medication. His ex-wife and doctors can confirm that. But once he married Trisha, he stopped taking his medicine — and we all know how that ended.”

Diane also referenced Harding’s unsuccessful lawsuit against the Nevada Athletic Commission for more than $100 million. The case was rooted in her claim that Tommy was wrongfully barred from fighting. Morrison says Harding’s ongoing efforts to rewrite history have caused the family renewed grief.

“She continues to make posts showing all of Tommy’s memorabilia that she continues to possess,” Morrison said. “Our family, along with members of Tommy’s team, sent a cease-and-desist letter through our attorney, demanding that these lies and conspiracy theories be stopped. By further disrespecting the family, she ignored it. Sadly, we didn’t have the financial means to keep fighting.”

Now, Morrison says her family has launched a GoFundMe campaign to fund legal action against Harding, the documentary’s producer, and any distributors involved in I Am Tommy Morrison. She emphasized that the family is not seeking financial compensation, but simply wants the project halted.

“We only want her to stop and to leave the family at peace,” Morrison stated. “Those who really knew and loved Tommy know better. I can honestly say Trisha Harding never knew my son. She was with Tommy when he was not in his right mind — sadly, due to the abuse of drugs caused by changes in his life that many of us would have never overcome.”

Diane concluded her statement with a mother’s enduring love and sorrow for her son — and a final plea for the world to remember the man he truly was, rather than the controversy that has surrounded his name.

“I just want to say my son Tommy was an amazing young man, and people have no idea what he went through,” she wrote. “When he fell to drugs, he would fight back to become clean and sober — which he did, but sadly it was for only a short time. We all love and miss Tommy’s big heart and big smile. We need Trisha Harding to please stop now and to leave our family at peace. I don’t like sharing my family’s private pain, but I just want her to stop, so that we can finally have peace and begin to heal.”

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