What about the guys who didn’t make it? We only hear about it whenever it happens to a champ. But there must be a load of guys who never got into the big purses that were even more unfortunate. Sad to say This sport takes its toll on more than just the champions.
He would forget where I went to school after telling him 100’s of times or forget where I live. My family members would say he would talk to himself in the bathroom for periods of time. He would randomly be aggressive to someone. Instead, some feedback I receive, or when I look at people’s comments from the internet, people say “that's just the way he is”, “he’s crazy”. This content is protected It was disheartening to hear knowing what truly is going Then, for the first time in my life, I spent a weekend with him when he was inducted into the @BoxingHall There I could see, he had trouble walking down a hallway. He would lean on a wall while walking and seemed impaired. He would need assistance with simple things and task. He would be confused about going to different events that we talked about before getting there. The last thing that broke me down, was during the final day. I heard great, thoughtful speeches from @TeddyAtlasReal , @JJacksonthehawk , Buddy Mcgirt and more. All of their families are there to support them. I tried to prepare a speech for my father for months. and he never wanted to really get to it. He thought he could go up to the stage and speak from his heart and talk about memories. But when he got there, all he could say was thank you and he walked off because he was not able mentally. Things like this dishearten me, because I know the reason why he is like this, but unfortunately, CTE & mental health is something that's new to us all in 2021. He has more than likely broken relationships because of this disease, and I'm here to apologize on his behalf. This content is protected This content is protected There is no infrastructure in place that I’m aware of for athletes, especially boxers, that can get the help or treatment they need for mental health and CTE. I’m asking you to ta or any higher ups or large entities who focus on mental health to help spread awareness around this, so there can be resources for retired boxers/athletes that may have early symptoms of mental health and CT and they can get the help they need before its to late. Thank you
I certainly wish him the best. Hard to understand what sets this off, and it's so variable depending on the individual. He had hundreds of amateur fights to go along with his pro career. Sometimes it seems more older fighters suffer from this than don't.
Just a reminder: While Donald Curry only fought 40 professional fights, he fought 400 amateur fights, which is a crazy high amount (By way of comparison, Sugar Ray Leonard who had an extensive amateur career fought less than half that many times). And how many thousands of rounds of sparring? Just because he didn't have an exceptionally long pro career doesn't mean he didn't get hit A LOT of times.
400 + amateur bouts though...and no offence to Donald who is my favourite fighter of all time but his rapid decline at 25 coincided with the nightlife,Akbar Muhammad ....and there are unconfirmed rumours of drug abuse....that it started back than ...he was a shell of a fighter from 1986 to 1991...and in retirement it possibly got worse....such a shame.... I dont agree about the adulation was gone....people talk about him on forums worldwide 30 years after his career in earnest ended....he got inducted into the International boxing hall of fame 2 years or so back...was guest editor of the Ring magazine.....was talking about being ready to start training....looking at the photo's at Canastota...he looked in shape and very stylishly dressed...at 60 did he really need women..all that said he did sound very gruff and incoherently rambling in thst YouTube interview.....finances thought were bad in kid 90s so now must be pretty dire..this is very bad news that he is back in prison....boxing truly is the red light district of sport when a Southern gentleman like Curry ends up in prison at 60. Has a go fund me been set up id contribute
Yea, now you mention it, I did read he had a lot of amateur bouts. That does contribute to a shorter career. Those headshots are not good for anyone, but that's a part a of the job, you're going to get hit. It's the price some of these guys pay. Back then, you never heard about a fighter's personal life. Now with the internet you hear everything and nothing is hidden. Didn't hear about the drugs and trouble with him until later on. Very sad. I hope he gets the help he needs. I remember reading back in '91 that he stayed too long at welter and that he ditched his manager, (Dave Gorman was it?)... He was a slick fighter when he was going good. When he KO'ed Mc Crory, he looked like perfection. I was shocked when he lost to Honeyghan, and even more shocked the night I saw McCallum KO him with one shot, wow....
There's an update....the UK national Saturday Times Sports section covered the story...apparently Marlon starling and Milton mcrory contacted Donald's son to help...and an CT scan in Las Vegas is arranged. Apparently Donald Curry was in prison for 3 weeks than got out. It said Curry was in and out of prison a few weeks at a time as he likes to take marijuana to relax and than of course he fails his probation drug test....its a vicious cycle. Otherwise the article was a rehash of twitter. The article writer rang Donald's Currys son direct
The late great Dave Gorman was with Donald throughout his career from pee wee to world champ. I remember Dave saying Don doesn't really like boxing what he intended on doing was turn pro to get $$$$$ for college to try to get into baseball, his first love . he wanted to play major league baseball. Along with Dave his trainer Paul Reyes was with him from the start. in fact they turned pro together. boxing seemed to come so easy to Don he forgot about baseball. What Don needs is medical help Kudos to Marlon Starling & Milton McCrory for stepping up to the plate to help a fallen comrade. Where are akhbar Muhammad & the $$$ grabbing promoters who have made a fortune out of fighters like Don God Speed LONE STAR COBRA
People talk about the Honeyghan fight....but Don looked like **** in the Rodriguez fight in early 86...he was wild,sloppy,was getting caught...its clear he had started taking party drugs and his partying was wildly out of control...the atmosphere after that fight in ring...there were suddenly an army of hangers on....Marlon Starling said it best..."Honeyghan beat a burnt out Donald Curry who the whole world could've beat"... I agree Curry was a zombie...but I also think Honeyghan was the best fighter Don had fought...and was stylistically multi talented and thus bad ....I wish Lloyd had accepted that rematch at 154 in summer 1987....Don though slipping defensively and no longer with the stamina or focus and desire had regained a lot of his skills and timing in those 10 months at 154 beating Lupe Acquino and Santos.
There was a time when Curry was one of those fighters who looked flawless, he made it look easy, (at least for a short time). Whatever combo of things happened would mostly only be known to him and those that were around him then. He slipped fast when he did. I had always read it was because he stayed at welter too long and was drained. Only he knows for sure. When Honeyghan beat him, that was the best fight Lloyd fought in his life. Especially considering how he himself turned into a flop himself not long after.
Yes honeyghans sudden capitulation was almost as shocking as Curry's...I remember Ko magazine writing in the summer of 1990...there's few fighters who became shot overnight like Honeyghan. There are real similarities.....I dont think the 1st vaca fight was a loss...so both ruled for 3 calender years...both were never the same after 1st crushing defeats..both were multi faceted and talented. Curry for sure was far superior....but Lloyd was almost unique . In his prime Fast of hand and feet and cobra like reflexes..able to box masterfully..elusive and cagey and yet a murderous one punch knockout artist...of course he became a party animal and inpatient free swinging brawler in his title reign... Both men blamed a myriad of reasons for their decline....honeyghan blamed " falling in love" ,bad hands...a burnout schedule...even not getting a Leonard fight. Curry at different times blames weight difficulties,the very sad truthful story of loss of his sister,burnout,not securing a hagler fight... In truth I think drugs and drink and partying and loss of dedication and focus were the true reasons.
Honeyghan wasn't unique at all. Starling beat him down rather easily. The same Starling who Curry beat twice. Honeyghan seized and took the opportunity and believed in himself vs Curry. But I'm not going to even argue stupid points because Curry looked HORRIBLE in that fight and the previous fight. He just stood there. And lets not forget latter in both of thier careers Honeyghan turned DOWN a 6 figure purse to face Donald again. That in itself tells you all you need to know.
