Ray Leonard vs Donald Curry

Honeyghan beats Leonard?. You must be having a laugh.


:rasta

 

I stick by what I said. Lloyd was one of the strongest welters I've ever seen-even stronger than Basilio or Napoles. he was all muscle and he had leverage that wouldn't quit. And he was fearless and hungry.

Ray was a good technician but he'd get hurt early by Honeyghan-there's no doubt about that. He wouldn't be able to avoid his attack for very long so I ask myself: How would Ray survive?

 

Exactly!

 

I once did a what if... Leonard had not retired in 1982? I had Leonard winning a controversial 15 round decision in a early 1983 fight (Leonard's first post Finch), then winning a more convincing decision in a mid 84 rematch.

 

As for why it did not happen; well Leonard did retire with a legitmate eye injury in 82; looked terrible in a 84 comeback and by 87 Curry was damaged goods.

I do remember whispers of a possible Curry/Hagler match up post Mugabi, and to be honest at the time I fought Curry would of had a great chance:nut, then the Raggamuffinman came along...

 

Hey, he readily picks guys like Roldan over Monzon too

 

A prime Leonard would have beaten the living **** outta Honeyghan, and stopped him within 8.

 

Curry was a great technician and this could have been an incredible display of skill similar to Leonard - Benitez. But at some point it would have turned into a fight and Leonard just had a lot more in the areas of determination, killer instinct, etc. Curry generally kept his hands pretty high and I think Leonard would have got some mileage out of the left hook to the body. Leonard by late stoppage.

Leonard would have owned Honeyghan at any point in his career.

 

Ray takes this fight on an 11th round stoppage.Jun-Sok Hwang got to Curry, putting him on the canvas, and if Ray tags him, and he will at some point, it's over for Donald.

 

True. Leonard would always have beaten Curry. In a prime for prime scenario,it would have been very one sided.

 

Ok heres how this went down: At one point in time there was serious talk of Curry moving up from welter straight to middle to challenge Hagler.Think about it:TWO UNDISPUTED Champions facing eachother.Curry who looked devestating against MCcroy against Hagler who was nearing the end of his great career-it was the biggest fight to be made at that time in boxing AND a huge possible roadblock for a Hagler-Leonard bout.Keep in mind that at this time Curry and Hagler were considered the Two best pound for pound boxers in the WORLD.
In comes Mike Trainer who all of the sudden wants to be Curry's advisor.Now its a known fact that Curry is having trouble making welter(huge trouble) so what does Trainer do?He advises Curry not to leave welter.And guess who introduced Curry to Trainer?LEONARD.
Heres the thing.For whatever reason Curry was never the same after Honeyghan.Anyone who followed Curry knows this.If he faces MCcallum after he faced Mccroy he beats Mccallum hands down-you saw what a damaged Curry was doing to MCCallum prior to losing and believe me that was Curry FAR from his best.
Prime for Prime Leonard beats Curry although it would not have been easy but 1985/1986 Curry takes Leonard.
Anyone who ever has met Leonard knows that Leonard is an ass but at the same time he is very smart in the business end of boxing.Curry got suckered into thinking Ray was trying to look out for him and thats Curry's fault for not listening to his people(Gorman)
And before everyone gets in an uproar do one thing:Listen to Leonard's commentary during the Mccallum/Curry bout and listen to how upset Leonard sounds when Curry was having success against Mccallum.

 

It would've been huge in 1985....... Curry of '85 beats a comebacking Leonard of '85 at 147 pounds......

Oddly though, a 1987 SRL at 158 pounds knocks out Curry of that same era and time......

1987 Leonard who decisioned Hagler by a hair at 158 pounds would be too much for the 1987 Curry who was doing well against McCallum early on at 154 until he got caught and stopped from a wicked-ass hook launched by Mike.....

MR.BILL

 

Leonard's movement and general speed is what does it... Curry definitely has the power to keep any ww honest, but his undoing is Ray's constant movement.