What was so special about Donald Curry?

Agree on all counts. Curry did look very good before he was caught.

 

I thought he looked good, but there were some exchanges where he was rocked and he tried to ride with the punch and looked awkward. And the swelling on his eye started a little even after round one slightly. I tried to figure how that happened, and Mike was landing his jab a little. I think Donald was winning the rounds with sharp punching but losing the fight by slowing down and the bodypunching of Mike were landing more in round 4 and it was very gradual. Mike was taking over. Which is why Donald seemed to try to fight on the outside more in round 5 and pulled out like he did.

 

although I would have no argument for him maybe being in the Hall of Fame. I go back and forth on that one.

 

Curry was one of the best amateurs the U.S. produced in the wake of the 76 Olympics. He had tight defense, good power, high ring IQ, excellent balance, and solid infighting skills. He was also the undisputed welterweight champion. Unlike today, when so many champs fight second-raters and get an instant reputation, Curry actually had a slew of impressive wins: LaRocca, Colin Jones, Starling 2X, and McCrory in a unification bout. Curry had serious weight issues and managerial problems leading up to his first loss. He was never the same after Honeyghan, but he still went on to beat Lupe Aquino, Rossi, and Carlos Santos, despite being shot.

 

you knew after that fight it was a devastating loss to him as far as boxing goes. His second loss in 10 months after being undefeated.

 

True, but outside the ring? Donald approaches Ray, grabs him by his jheri curled head, and clocks him. And Ray probably knew outside the ring, that a few cats wanted to lay him out, so he wisely avoided them.

 

I don't think professionals act like this. This is not Mike Tyson vs. that one guy outside Dapper Dans. I forget the guys name. Back about 1986 he fought a guy who confronted him. The fact is Ray should have been honest with Donald, but he didn't know what he was going to do probably so he waited and sprung it on everyone. I just don't think Marvin was sharp to fight Donald or motivated. He was really motivated by Hearns.

 

True, but a lot of times, behind close doors, anything can happen. And Mike was lucky old boy was on angel dust or it could have ended up bad for him, but that's another story.

 

That was a heck of a knockout. It was not brutal as far as the sound of it, but it was so final. I was watching that fight standing up for some reason and I remember when Donald went down it was almost surreal..

 

I think boxing has a lot of stories of bad blood and you cannot just start fights with people. There are contracts and the fact is Ray did not owe Donald anything, although I think he should have been honest with him and not bullshitted him just for his own benefit.. But that is and was Ray. He orchestrated a great career with the greats he fought. Hearns and Duran and Hagler have other fights other than the greats to say look what they did. Ray only has Benitez,Duran,Hearns and Hagler, and Kalule a little for his legacy.

 

I can't agree with that, Unforgiven.

If he was, he'd have battered Honeyghan who in no other fight looked that good. Within eight months, Honeyghan was having to rely on a tight decision to squeeze past a green Blocker, then six months later was beaten by Vaca. Then he went on to win a couple before losing emphatically to a past prime version (knocked out cold in his previous fight) of Starling, a fighter Curry had twice beaten a much better version of.

Put Honeyghan in the same ring as the Curry who convincingly beat Starling and see if you still think that the weight drained Curry of autumn 86 was prime. Lloyd really hit form that night but I think he was made to look better than he really was. There was something badly wrong with Donald that night.

In my opinion, what they said about Billy Graham - 'he was as good as a fighter can be without being great' - pretty much sums Don's career up.

 

It was Mitch Green, Pea.

 

Thank you. that is right. Mitch Green. He went 10 rounds with Mike.