Donald Curry vs Marlon Starling 1 & 2 - Underrated rivalry

This is what I wrote about these fights in 2022.


Donald Curry vs Marlon Starling 1

1 Starling
2 Curry
3 Even
4 Curry
5 Starling
6 Starling
7 Curry
8 Starling
9 Starling
10 Curry
11 Curry
12 Curry

115-114 Curry

Very close enjoyable tactical fight in the same vain as McCallum vs Toney, alot of close debatable rounds with Curry's long range shots vs Starling's work on the inside.

I feel Starling was doing a bit too much clowning around and not working enough and letting his hands go on the inside.

The last 3 rounds were the easiest rounds in the fight to score Curry clearly won 10, 11, by adjusting his tactics using movement and out boxing Starling. Then in the last round Curry went toe to toe with Starling and outfought him giving Curry a well deserved close win IMO.

I felt like all the judges had the fight too wide 117-113 vs Starling, 116-112 x2 for Curry. But overall i feel like the right man won by winning the last 3 rounds clearly and i feel like overall Starling just didn't do enough work.



Donald Curry vs Marlon Starling 2

1 Curry
2 Curry
3 Curry
4 Starling
5 Starling
6 Curry
7 Curry
8 Starling
9 Curry
10 Curry
11 Starling
12 Even
13 Starling
14 Curry
15 Curry

145-141 Curry

@JohnThomas1 I thought this was a much better fight then their 1st encounter, Starling wasn't clowning around and was all business Curry looked alot more assertive/stronger/better fighter.

Curry came out as the aggressor and i feel like that set the tone for the majority of the fight, Curry was the effective aggressor landing solid shots to the body and head and occasionally pushing Starling back on the ropes.

Starling would have his moments counter punching and landing some good flurries, but i felt like Curry had the best of it mostly for his effective aggression and outworking Starling.

Overall it was a very classy inside fight with alot of skills on display but i felt like Curry was clearly the better man. And i know what you mean now when you said that before @JohnThomas1

Final thoughts i think this fight showed Curry was just a bit better than Starling overall. The 1st fight was a nip and tuck encounter with two talented but greenish fighters ? the 2nd fight both men were at their peak and on their game, but Curry clearly showed he was the superior fighter in a competitive but clear win IMO.

The judges had it 145-140 x2 144-142 i feel like that was pretty spot on maybe 144-142 was a tad close but overall good judging.

 

I liked both of these men and he fights were wonderful. I remember really anticipating their first bout when they were both undefeated. I didn't realize how truly good Curry was until he beat Marlon in that one.

 

Marlon had no business in with Curry the first fight.

 

Not sure what you mean by this? It was a close fight.

 

It was, but I was saying that Marlon shouldn't have taken the fight. Neither should Donald, especially in his position, but oh well.

 

He was #2 in the world, IIRC.

 

You're saying the fight didn't make sense for either in terms of where they were career-wise and was an unnecessary risk for both, yes?

 

Sorry mate i meant to reply forever ago. The first fight was indeed cheapened a little by Starling clowning around. Starling copped a lot of heat for that. I don't recall any real scoring controversy in the first fight, pretty much everyone had it comfortably for Curry.

I'll say one thing about the experts, they sure recognised the level Curry was suddenly performing at when he beat Starling in the rematch. A star was born that night, even tho he burnt out so quickly. Both the experts and Starling himself where shocked that Curry took him on and muscled him around with ease. He'd never showed that side and his strength had Starling saying he should go up a division LOL! From this point forward for a couple of years and half a dozen fights i completely beleive Curry was operating at an ATG level in the ring. He was very complete and had so many assets.