Donald Curry

At the time he easily dispatched Milton McCrory he was in his absolute prime and looked like a complete fighter. He should have moved up in weight right then. He had been a champion 3 full years and there were really no money fights at 147. It is a mystery why he stayed at welterweight, especially since there were reports he was having trouble making the weight. He did fight a non title 154 lb. fight agsinst James Green in 1985 and looked comfortable at that weight, then moved back down to 147. This was six months before he beat McCrory. I can understand dropping down for the unification fight, but his management skrewed up after that. He never should have fought Honeyghan. That beating f-ed up his career and he was damaged goods by the time he fought McCallum.

 

I agree with the above. His mgmt thought too much of their fighter as a valuable commodity and didnt want to risk against higher caliber fighters

but I'm glad the Honeyghan fight happened. these are the kinds of fights the sport needs becuz it proves the true mettle of a champion, whether he can stave off the challenge of a good young, strong up N coming fighter like Lloyd

in this way, Donald was no longer a prima donna, hot commodity and being in the lsoer's seat, was forced to take tougher matches vs tougher competition

 

Donald was a very, very good fighter who possibly could've been great had he not been seduced by the Sith Lord of Boxing(Ray Leonard). His chin was a bit suspect, and was probably fortunate that he got Milton McCrory at the right time instead of the initial matchup time proposed by TPTB.

 

Claims that he was #1 p4p when people were saying as much weren't the least bit unfounded.

 

I think he has 1 of the highest peaks in boxing history but also the absolute shortest in the same token, but he stayed at WW way to long he was a big guy at WW.....

 

Curry's biggest problem was he had over 300 amateur fights. He basically was a burnout. He had one of the shortest "primes" I can remember, being one fight, the McCrory fight.

 

He was a brilliant fighter.

I don't buy into the whole "pound for pound" rankings thing. Unless we're talking about ranking fighters on their whole career achievements, in a historical sense. But not ranking current fighters against each other p4p on a monthly-yearly basis, that makes no sense, it's impossible to gauge them.

I tend to see Curry losing to Honeyghan as just a matter of styles. Honeyghan fought by far his best fight ever also.
Honeyghan fought a smart and busy fight, and came at Curry from the right angles.
Curry was a deadly stalker, a real "Cobra", but he had the weaknesses that might come with that approach, susceptible to be beaten be someone who takes the initiative and throw him off. That's what I think Honeyghan did.
And Honeyghan was extremely quick in that fight, elusive. Curry just couldn't nail him. Honeyghan went out and took it from him as soon as the fight started.
To me, it looked like the same Don Curry, just happened to get beat.

 

I think Curry was arguably as good a welterweight as Leonard and Hearns.
I mean, I wouldn't make him much of an underdog against those two. That's how good he was.

 

Definitely an underdog, though. (and I love Curry)

 

I'd really expect Leonard to beat him, on consideration. But wouldn't be shocked by an upset.

Hearns v Curry, I don't know. I see it as 50-50.

 

Donald Curry had tremendous talent and a beautiful boxing style, but it appears that his training habits, heart, training habits and chin were less than stellar. He may have been as talented as Sugar Ray Leonard or Tommy Hearns, but he probably couldn't match them in terms of dedication and the intangibles.

I often felt that if you could have combined the best attributes of Donald Curry and his brother, Bruce, you would have a fighter who was unbelievable. Bruce had far less talent and skill than Donald, but his desire, heart and training habits were tremendous.

- Chuck Johnston

 

I'd tip it 60-40 Hearns' way, though Donald would fare considerably better than his brother. :yep

As for Leonard, that's has been done to death on here but Leonard was just a little bit too much of virtually everything Curry was and then some.

 

I've seen very little of him but he seems to posses a very smooth, floaty style that's beautiful to watch.

 

a how good was Donald Curry thread.

Christ, you move at a snails pace Mendoza.And i thought the wondering if Jofre vs Harada was available was bad enough for someone that has been lurking around boxing sites for years and years.