64 years ago today: Donald Sample "Lone Star Cobra" Curry is born

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by IntentionalButt, Sep 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM.


  1. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Happy birthday, champ!

    A refresher:
    • 99+% success rate in the amateurs (fought over four hundred bouts and lost just four)
    • 9-5 professional record in world title fights.
    • 4 world titles captured across two weight classes
    • 1 lineal championship at welterweight
    In light of all the above, Curry remains IMO the most-snubbed person in the history of the IBHOF - despite him now finally being enshrined. He was first eligible on the ballot in 2013 and his induction wasn't until 2019. An outrage. It's absolutely inexcusable for him to have remained on the bubble for that long.

    Some of the weak attempts I've seen at justification for that include that Curry "had a very short peak". Eh, that doesn't hold water. 11-0 run from Starling I through Honeyghan, with 8 of those for titles. Ring Magazine rated him #2/#1/#2/champ in the years '82-'85, and you can argue he was the best h2h welter on the planet for that entire four year stretch. Not really a flash in the pan.

    I still maintain the decade-and-a-half delay had a lot to do with the homophobia (something deeply ingrained into the firmament of the sport's culture, and internalized by everyone from the combatants to coaches, and members of press row - far more rampant in the previous century but maintaining a foothold into this one).

    My buddy @MRBILL and I used to rail at the absurdity of his omission; sadly I don't think MB lived to see it rectified. :ohno
     
    IntentionalButt, Sep 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
    IntentionalButt, Sep 7, 2025 at 12:40 PM
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  2. Ioakeim Tzortzakis

    Ioakeim Tzortzakis Well-Known Member Full Member

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    It's also my birthday today.

    Shane Mosley's too.

    Nicolino Locche also died 20 years ago.
     
    Ioakeim Tzortzakis, Sep 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
    Ioakeim Tzortzakis, Sep 7, 2025 at 12:49 PM
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  3. IntentionalButt

    IntentionalButt Guy wants to name his çock 'macho' that's ok by me

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    Happy birthday!

    That's a good trivia nugget...SSM and the Cobra, born exactly ten years apart...both welterweight titlists with exceptional power & handspeed. Donald probably a bit more skilled while Shane had the much better chin.
     
    IntentionalButt, Sep 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
    IntentionalButt, Sep 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
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  4. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    He should have been earlier as well as Michael Nunn. Glad they both got in. It's become too much of a popularity contest with the likes of Paz somehow getting enshrined.
     
    Saad54, Sep 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
    Saad54, Sep 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
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  5. salsanchezfan

    salsanchezfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Curry's coming of age and my own interest int he sport parallel each other almost exactly, so I absorbed absolutely everything he did at the time. For a few years, he was indeed the gold standard. Back in '84-'85 before Honeyghan got to him, Curry was listed by at least one magazine at the time as the very best fighter in the world, P4P. In that stacked an era. That says something, or at least should.
     
    salsanchezfan, Sep 8, 2025 at 2:24 AM
    salsanchezfan, Sep 8, 2025 at 2:24 AM
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  6. JohnThomas1

    JohnThomas1 VIP Member

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    Curry fought at an ATG level for a few years. Helluva fighter.
     
    JohnThomas1, Sep 8, 2025 at 2:59 AM
    JohnThomas1, Sep 8, 2025 at 2:59 AM
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  7. AwardedSteak863

    AwardedSteak863 Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Good stuff! Prime Curry was a force of nature!
     
    AwardedSteak863, Sep 8, 2025 at 3:12 AM
    AwardedSteak863, Sep 8, 2025 at 3:12 AM
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  8. Flo_Raiden

    Flo_Raiden Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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    Curry in his prime looked almost flawless. His performance against Nino LaRocca, Colin Jones, and Milton McCrory were just mesmerizing to watch. So clean, sharp, efficient, explosive, accurate, and well balanced. A great textbook sharpshooter that was like watching a WW Joe Louis.
     
    Flo_Raiden, Sep 8, 2025 at 6:56 AM
    Flo_Raiden, Sep 8, 2025 at 6:56 AM
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  9. Saad54

    Saad54 Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    I think it's debatable homophobia had anything to do with the delay in enshrinement. More likely his decline after the Honeyghan surprise. Although looking at his full body of work he should have been in earlier despite that decline. He still won a version of the 154 lb title after that.

    The only place I have ever heard rumors of him being homosexual were on this forum.

    I know he has a son who reported on his mental decline a few years ago.
     
    Saad54, Sep 8, 2025 at 8:18 AM
    Saad54, Sep 8, 2025 at 8:18 AM
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