If Bobby Joe had fought him in '81-'82, as an upcoming prospect, and caught him like Jun-Sok did, we wouldn't' be talking about Curry now.
In '82 Bobby Joe Young couldn't even beat Kevin Howard. Also, he lost his firt pro fight to the slick but weak punching Pedro Villela. So, there was already an early indication he could be outboxed. There's a small chance he could land a solitary home run punch on Curry, but the the odds are much greater that Curry picks him apart. Bobby Joe Young built and impressive early record of kos, but once his level of competiton increased significantly, his big punch surfaced less often. I was an admirer of Young and wished he had panned out, but even in 1982 Curry was very polished. He would move around the flat footed Young all night and counter, getting through Young porous defense time and again for a late stoppage or easy decision.
My understanding was that the Vilela fight was a bit of a robbery. Curry was a polished fighter in '82, but he was still a couple of levels lower than what he became, which would have given Young the chance. Milton McCrory would've beaten this version of Donald had they fought when they were originally supposed to fight, why Emanuel Steward didn't take the fight, who knows.
What specifically about Curry made him more vulnerable to Young before 1982? What was it about Young that made him so much more dangerous then?
Young never KO'd anyone of Curry's calibre, unless you count a clapped out Aaron Pryor. He'd have a puncher's chance, but Curry would have a much better chance.
He was an once-beaten prospect who was on the verge of something until the Kevin Howard fight ruined him. Curry wasn't at his best yet, despite his high skill set, and Young had the punch to cold**** him.
Remember, Curry wasn't at the peak he was going to be at.......and what happened with Hwang could've happened early if Bobby Joe got to him at the right time.
That a mediocrity like Howard was able to ruin him, as you say, just reinforces that his defense was very shabby. 1982 Curry would have no trouble finding Bobby Joe Young's chin - all night long. There's no question Young would have a "puncher's chance" but to say "Young would KO him" as you did is a whole different matter.
Curry was being mentioned against the SRL hearns Duran even hagler very exciting prospects these fights lots of pundits Fancyed him against the big 4 .we didn't know that his hand were knackered and struggling at the weight .still think at his peak honey would have gave him hell. Pity the big fights didn't happen would have been Brilliant.
He shouldn't have listened to his idol, the Sith Lord of Boxing, and he would've ended up with a good career.
Curry clearly is not on the level of Leonard, Napoles et al (with Robinson a further level ahead, at the very top). But in his too short pomp it looked like he might be. I remember my Dad telling me after the McCrory fight he thought that Curry would beat Hagler in due course, and I do not think he was alone. Sadly it was not to be for The Cobra...