Morrison’s comeback fight a hit

Ex-heavyweight champ knocks out foe in second round

John Castle, left, throws a punch at Tommy Morrison. Morrison knocked out Castle on Thursday in Chester, W.Va.

? Former WBO heavyweight champion Tommy Morrison stopped John Castle in the second round Thursday night in his return to the ring 11 years after testing positive for the virus that causes AIDS.

The 38-year-old Morrison, who claims he has no trace of the AIDS virus after taking several HIV tests, dropped Castle with a left hook to the head midway through the second of the scheduled four-round fight at Mountaineer Racetrack and Gaming Resort.

Castle slowly got up, and referee Dave Johnson counted to eight before stopping the match.

Morrison (47-3-1), who until that point had landed few punches, fell to his knees afterward and raised his arms skyward.

Morrison won the WBO title in 1993 by outpointing George Foreman. He lost it later that year. Morrison, who was featured in the movie “Rocky V,” also served a couple of years in an Arkansas prison on drug and weapons charges.

In February 1996, Morrison tested HIV positive just before a scheduled fight against Stormy Weathers.

Morrison said earlier this week he has taken several HIV tests while preparing for his comeback, and all have been negative.