Donald Curry circa 84'-86' was very high on most experts pound for pound lists. After beating Marlon Starling twice and dismantling Milton McCrory to unify the welterweight crown, he was considered elite by most. Looking back, timing/poor guidance was his big mistake in that he should've moved up earlier as he was struggling to make 147 for a few years and his performances were starting to suffer. After he lost to Honeyghan he never really regained that momentum he had prior. When he fought Mike McCallum he actually wobbled McCallum a few times but then got caught by the master counter puncher and was truly flattened for the first time and totally lost his swagger and aura of invincibility. He did win a 154 title eventually but he was never again considered in the top pound for pound lists. Incidentally, Sugar Ray Leonard advised him to stay at welterweight a bit longer and some wonder if this was because he himself was secretly planning to fight Hagler and did not want Curry to crash the party before he had his chance. Not saying Curry could've beaten Hagler but he would've been a strong player in those sweepstakes. Curry was always a 'Big If' to me and it's kind of sad a lot of boxing people today don't recall how good this dude really was (for a short time). Another thing was he had a huge amateur career (400-4) and that may have contributed to an early career burnout and shorter prime.
Donald always seemed a little reserved so I am surprised he is dancing there like that. Good to see he is having fun. Great to get in the Hall of Fame.
Good for him. I love the fact that he got in. Not just because he was terrific in what short little prime he had, but because this occasion seems to have lifted him and given the kind of joy and satisfaction that is genuinely heartwarming. Others are more muted in their response.
I was there this weekend. Got to meet Curry. He was super nice, and in very good spirits. But, regrettably is showing some ill effects from boxing. He was a truly great fighter at his peak.
Curry would be a superstar today... The kind of domination he showed for a few years there against solid opposition, people nowdays fall in love with the P4P performers like himself.
That was exactly it Saccharin Ray Leonard( I refuse to call him sugar) stabbed Don in the back. At the time Leonard was supposedly retired & acting as advisor to Don. The traitor knew Dons weight problems & that he wanted to move up to face Hagler. But he secretly negociated the Hagler fight for himself stabbing Don in the back. Don challenged the rat bag to fight him but Leonard refused Thats why Texas dont like Leonard
