Donald Curry vs Pipino Cuevas

PIPINO KO 2

 

At welterweight, D. Curry never faced that type of challenge (D. Curry, to me, is always evaluated on his great potential). Cuevas inside 6 rds by TKO.

 

Pip kos him with in 7 rounds.

 

Mulling this one over, and it's tough. Pipino is somewhat dismissed here on this board as a one-dimensional wade-in banger. He was a wade-in banger for usre, let's not mince words about that, but he brought more to the table that I think turns the tide in his favor; he had a good chin (the Hearns debacle notwithstanding), and he had really good stamina, as evidenced by the huge workrate and 15 full rounds against Shields. There was more to him than just a left hook.

Curry was sharp, fluid and precise, but he could be hit and his chin wasn't terrific. He stuck his head out forward behind that peek-a-boo defense he had, and I just can't imagine him avoiding or absorbing ALL those disgustingly hard shots coming his way forever.

Cuevas by clean KO.

 

It wouldn't go that long without something interesting happening. I would have to go with Cuevas just on what we know about Curry after. That he folds under pressure and he is a good counterpuncher, but Cuevas would have been right there swinging with him. This fight would go similar to Duran vs. Curry where Duran and Cuevas might just be too tough for Donald.. Although Donald's speed and counterpunching could be a problem.

 

I recall Honeyghan had some interesting comments about Donald Curry. 1 of them was Curry only has a good defense against straight punches and up the middle. Anything wide and looping--like hooks---land every time.

Watching his defense closely, I think that's true. Tough to score straight on. If it is even remotely true, The left hook of Cuevas is doing major damage and it will land.

The way for Curry to win is obviously to take that punch away from Pepino. But Lloyd sure did show how he dealt with that Curry defense & really took Curry apart in there. How often do you see elite fighters taken apart?

So me, I'm going Cuevas. Sometime during the first half of the fight.

 

In his prime, Donald Curry was terrific. I believe that a vintage Curry had far too many skills for the comparatively crude Pipino Cuevas.

- Chuck Johnston

 

Very tough fight to pick. It's good to see Pipino being highly regarded in the forum of late. Guy could fight.

 

Pipino was very hard punching and relentless .Curry would have to box very carefully to win .I doubt if curry can survive the late rnds especially a 15 round fight

 

I'm going against the consensus so far.

Prime Curry would take Cuevas apart and stop him in 6-7.

 

Cuevas was fun; Curry was serious quality in his pomp. Curry in the middle rounds.

 

Just the type of fight Curry would have needed, since the Boxing Mags back then were speculating D.Curry would go after Hagler.

 

Fight #2
Dr. Amaury Capella, a doctor for the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission, Issued a statement after the bout that Espada suffered a double fracture on the right side of his jaw.

Fight #3
"Cuevas jabbed more and was boxing better than before. I wasn't quite prepared for that." -Angel Espada"

#2:
1977-11-19 : Pipino Cuevas 147 lbs beat Angel Espada 146½ lbs by RTD at 3:00 in round 11 of 15

• Location: Coliseo Roberto Clemente, San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Referee: Jesus Celis 106-104
  104-104 106-108

• WBA World Welterweight Title
• Espada did not come out for the 12th round, due to a broken jaw. Espada was down in the 2nd round.

"Mexico's Jose (Pipino) Cuevas not only successfully defended his WBA welterweight title but also probably sent his challenger, Angel 'Cholo' Espada of Puerto Rico, into retirement with a broken jaw. Cuevas, using bull-like charges and a stinging left hand, sent the challenger to the hospital following the bout at Roberto Clemente Coliseum. A hard left sent Espada to the canvas for an eight count in the 2nd round. Fighting gamely, Espada recovered but Cuevas again punished the Puerto Rican, who was caught in the ropes by left and right hand combinations in the 8th and 11th rounds. Espada tried to come out in the 12th but stumbled to his knees and the referee halted the fight." -Associated Press

• Dr. Amaury Capella, a doctor for the Puerto Rico Boxing Commission, Issued a statement after the bout that Espada suffered a double fracture on the right side of his jaw.

#3
Pipino Cuevas vs. Angel Espada (3rd meeting)
(Redirected from Fight:31292)
1979-12-08 : Pipino Cuevas 146 lbs beat Angel Espada 144½ lbs by TKO at 1:18 in round 10 of 15

• Location: Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, USA
• Referee: Jerry Smith

"Jose (Pipino) Cuevas of Mexico City knocked out Angel Espada of Puerto Rico in the 10th round Saturday to retain his WBA welterweight championship. Cuevas started fast using his jab and left hooks to the head. In the 3rd round, a Cuevas left send Espada reeling and the champion closed in, landing nearly 20 blows while the challenger was in his corner. Espada rallied in the 4th but Cuevas came back in the 5th and 6th, although he was warned for a low blow in the latter and again in the 10th. Espada looked strong with head shots in the 7th, 8th and 9th rounds but took severe punishment to the body as the Cuevas corner urged the champion to use that strategy. Cuevas opened a cut over Espada's right eye and had it bleeding badly in the 7th. Then he switched to a body attack in the 8th and 9th to slow the challenger before putting him away at 1:18 of the 10th round in the scheduled 15 rounder at the Sports Arena." -Associated Press

• Purses: Cuevas - $100,000 plus undesignated training expenses. Espada - $25,000 plus $15,000 in training expenses.

Post fight comments

• "I was never hurt in the fight although he hit me with some good right hand shots. The fight did go longer than I expected." -Pipino Cuevas

• "He jabbed more and was boxing better than before. I wasn't quite prepared for that." -Angel Espada

 

Cuevas couldn't box a lick.