Heavyweight Trey Lippe Morrison, son of former world champion Tommy Morrison, has revealed the extent of his surgery as his recovery continues.
Lippe was involved in a second car crash in as many months last June and went under the knife to correct serious back injuries. Trey was in ICU for a few days before spending almost three weeks in the hospital.
Released on June 28, promoter Tony Holden outlined his admiration for Lippe as he defiantly battled through.
“Trey Lippe Morrison left the hospital this morning and is going home. It’s been a difficult time for Trey and his family, not knowing his outcome.
“Trey is proof that we can overcome anything,” said Holden.
Despite being largely silent during the process, Morrison finally made a short statement after getting out of his wheelchair and hitting the tarmac.
Astounding doctors, Morrison is already mobile as question marks continue over whether he can continue his boxing career.
Trey Lippe Morrison’s car wreck injuries
He said: “What’s up, peeps? Just keeping you all updated. It will be a long slow road, but I’ll be on it.
“For having eight bolts and screws put in my spine, I’d say it’s pretty good to be already running two miles a day for three weeks.”
During his car wreck, stepfather Mark Lippe spoke to Tulsa World to explain how Morrison ended up with those eight screws in his spine.
“Trey is going to be OK. He had a rollover accident. He was ejected through the sunroof of his truck,” Lippe told Tulsa World.
“[Trey] has mobility in all his extremities but is in some pain right now. He has a bit of a head injury. We’re kind of concerned about a back injury, but he’s going to be fine. He’s going to survive.
“He’s going to have a tough road going forward. As God says, it all works for good.”
Ironically, Lippe was on his way home from a part-time job, having taken extra work following the downside of his boxing career.
Heavyweight boxing career
Come December, it will be two years since Morrison last fought. The heavyweight puncher suffered a significant setback despite signing a deal with Top Rank.
After scoring seventeen knockouts from eighteen bouts, hopes were high for Lippe, who has a huge hook reminiscent of his famous father. However, coming up against Mike Balogun, who was 17-0 himself, Lippe was found wanting at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York.
Balogun got the job done in just 161 seconds, stopping Morrison to the shock of those who witnessed the event live and on TV.
The accident will have put even more doubt on whether Morrison will return to the ring as he approaches his 34th birthday.
Phil Jay is an experienced boxing news writer.
