RSR Looks Back at “Lone Star Cobra” Donald Curry
By Joe Wilson
Born September 7, 1961, in Forth Worth, Texas, better known as “cow town,” for some and Fort “Party” Worth for others; an elite boxer entered the scene in the early 80’s. This boxer had an amateur career of over 400 wins and 4 losses. His nickname was “Lone Star Cobra,” Donald Curry was the Undisputed World Welterweight Champion and the WBC Super Welterweight Champion.
During his amateur career, Curry was named the 1977 National Junior Olympic Champion, 1978 National AAU Champion, 1979 AAU Champion, 1980 National Golden Gloves Champion, 1980 World Cup Champion and also 1980 U.S. Olympic Team Member which was later boycotted and the US did not compete in.
Donald Curry turned professional on December 26, 1980, with a first round knockout over Mario Tineo. On May 4, 1982, with a record of 11-0, Curry knocked out Bruce Finch in three rounds to win the NABF Welterweight Championship. He fought Marlon Starling the USBA Welterweight Champion on October 23, 1982.
Before that fight Curry bruised his ribs during training camp, and also had a serious problem with making weight. He weighed nine pounds over the welterweight limit one week before the fight. Curry struggled in that bout, but won a twelve round split decision over Starling.
Curry defeated Jun-Suk Hwang on February 13, 1983, in a fifteen round unanimous decision to win the WBA Welterweight Championship that had been vacant since the retirement of Sugar Ray Leonard. Curry dominated that fight. Just three months later, Curry’s older brother Bruce won the WBA Super Lightweight Championship. They were the first pair of brothers to hold world titles simultaneously.
For his first title defense, Curry knocked out Roger Stafford in the first round. He then, had a rematch with Starling. Curry mixed punching to the body and head of Starling for fifteen brutal rounds and pulled off a unanimous decision. This time Curry was physically fit with no rib injuries or a weight problem. Curry retained the titles of WBA and newly formed IBF Welterweight Championship Titles.
The next three fights for Curry were all defenses of his titles and he was successful in all three bouts. First he stopped Elio Diaz in eight rounds. Then, Nino LaRocca in six rounds and Colin Jones in four rounds. He then stepped up to junior middleweight for two non-title fights. He stopped James “Hard Rock” Green in two rounds and Pablo Baez in six rounds.
On December 6, 1985, Curry stepped back down to the welterweight division to fight Milton McCrory, the undefeated WBC Welterweight Champion, to unify the welterweight titles. In the second round, Curry dodged a left jab thrown by McCrory and countered him with a big left hook that sent him down to the canvas. McCrory struggled to get back to his feet, but when he did Curry hit him swhich was something that sent him right back to the canvas and caused Referee Mills Lane to stop the fight.
Curry became the first Undisputed Welterweight Champion since Sugar Ray Leonard. His first defense of the Undisputed Welterweight Championship was in his hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. His opponent was Elduardo Rodriguez, whom he knocked out in the second round with a devastating left-right combination.
At that time with a 25-0 record, Donald Curry was considered by many experts as the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world. In 1985, Ring Magazine announced him “Fighter of the Year” along with “Marvelous” Marvin Hagler. His next defense was against London-based Jamaican Lloyd Honeyghan on September 27, 1986. This was one of Curry’s toughest fights. He was manhandled by a 5-1 underdog.
Honeyghan fought very well to have such big odds against him going into that fight. Curry suffered with weight issues. He said his legs were not good during that fight and he could not throw clean crisp punches. Curry suffered from an accidental headbutt that opened up a bad cut over his left eye, and would then later retire on his stool before round seven. That fight was later named The Ring Magazine Upset of the Year.
In his next fight, Curry stepped back up in weight and defeated Tony Montgomery for the USBA Junior Middleweight Championship. Montgomery was disqualified for intentional headbutts. Shortly after that bout, Curry defeated Carlos Santos by disqualification with intentional headbutting in the fifth round.
WBA Middleweight Champion Mike McCallum fought Curry on July 18, 1987. McCallum was 31-0, 28 KO’s, he was boxing’s longest reigning champion. Curry boxed and moved very well in this fight until he got caught with a punch that he didn’t see. Forty minutes later, after the fight Curry still did not know what hit him. After being caught on the chin clean by McCallum that fight ended in round five. Curry was ahead on all scorecards, before that devastating left hook.
Curry got another title shot on July 8, 1988. He traveled to Italy to fight Gianfranco Rosi for the WBC Super Welterweight Championship. Curry put him down five times, before Rosi quitting on his stool in round nine. Curry was back at the top again, but it did not last long. He lost the title in his first defense in twelve rounds against Rene Jacquot of France by unanimous decision on February 11, 1989.
He traveled back to France to fight IBF Middleweight Champion Michael Nunn on October 18, 1990. Nunn stopped him in ten rounds. He went back to junior middleweight to fight Terry Norris for the WBC Title. This fight took place on June 1, 1991 in Palm Springs, California. These two fighters battled it out for seven tough rounds; however Norris put Curry down in eight rounds after several landed right hands.
Donald Curry retired after that fight against Norris. It wasn’t long before his legal battles starting from child support to organized drug dealing. Curry became caught up in legal battles for a few years after his retirement. He was acquitted on a drug charge conspiracy and served six weeks on a six month child support sentence. All of this went on from 1994 through 1996.
Curry made his way back to ring from retirement on February 20, 1997, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He knocked out Gary Jones in four rounds. Curry made it known that his comeback was mostly due to his financial status. Next he would fight a fighter he once trained name Emmitt Linton. Curry had been Linton’s manager and trainer, before they had a big falling out.
It was bad blood between the two fighters. This fight was not just about the money, but also personal. Curry was no match for Linton. After six rounds Richard Steele had to stop the fight to save Curry from taken unnecessary punishment. That fight was at the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 9, 1997. This would be Donald Curry’s last fight. His record was 34-6, 25 KO’s.
In spite of previous legal battles Donald Curry is still a strong contender for The International Boxing Hall Of Fame.
I remember one night back in September 1986, there was a grand opening at a new night club in Arlington, Texas that I attended. This city is located about 20 minutes from Fort Worth. People all around the Dallas area were talking about this new club. It was standing room only. I finally made it inside and it did live up to the hype.
I remember grabbing a cocktail at the bar and a gentlemen slightly bumped into me trying to get out of the isle where people were walking. He turned toward me and apologized for bumping into me. I noticed many people staring at us as he apologized. When he turned all the way around facing me he looked very familiar and seemed very sincere about his apology.
He stood there next to me for quite a while. There were some people who passed by staring at him as they passed. He was wearing a nice business suit, but not to flashy. I knew he was some type of celebrity, but I could not remember who or where I saw him. I finally asked him, “Where do I know you from?” He smiled and said “You’ve probably seen me on television; I’m Donald Curry, the Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the World.”
I still remembered vividly, he was somewhat reserved while standing there, but his attitude was the attitude of a winner. People started stopping and holding up traffic right around where we were standing. I had watched this guy fight a few times on television, before that night. One thing about me is… I never forget a face. And–what was funny about that moment, I totally went brain dead.
Like Simon Brown, Donald Curry, a great fighter of the past, but will his legacy live on through the test of time, waiting to possibly join the others listed in The Hall Of Fame?
Donald Curry
Nickname: “Lone Star Cobra”
Division: Welterweight
Date Opponent Location Result
1997-04-09 Emmett Linton Las Vegas, US L TKO 7
International Boxing Association Light Middleweight Title
1997-02-20 Gary Jones Winnipeg, CA W KO 4
1991-06-01 Terry Norris Palm Springs, US L KO 8
WBC Light Middleweight Title
1990-10-18 Michael Nunn Bercy, FR L KO 10
IBF Middleweight Title
1990-08-17 Jose Antonio Martinez Las Vegas, US W KO 4
1989-12-26 Brett Lally Las Vegas, US W TKO 2
1989-02-11 Rene Jacquot Grenoble, FR L UD 12
WBC Light Middleweight Title
1989-01-03 Mike Sacchetti New Orleans, US W TKO 5
1988-07-08 Gianfranco Rosi San Remo, IT W RTD 9
WBC Light Middleweight Title
1988-01-03 Lupe Aquino Genoa, IT W PTS 12
1987-12-08 Rigoberto Lopez Reseda, US W KO 4
1987-07-18 Mike McCallum Las Vegas, US L KO 5
WBA World Light Middleweight Title
1987-04-04 Carlos Santos Las Vegas, US W DQ 5
USBA Light Middleweight Title
1987-02-07 Tony Montgomery Las Vegas, US W DQ 5
USBA Light Middleweight Title
1986-09-27 Lloyd Honeyghan Atlantic City, US L RTD 6
WBC Welterweight Title
WBA World Welterweight Title
IBF Welterweight Title
1986-03-09 Eduardo Rodriguez Fort Worth, US W KO 2
WBA World Welterweight Title
1985-12-06 Milton McCrory Las Vegas, US W KO 2
WBC Welterweight Title
WBA World Welterweight Title
IBF Welterweight Title
1985-06-22 Pablo Baez Atlantic City, US W TKO 6
1985-03-30 James Green Dallas, US W TKO 2
1985-01-19 Colin Jones Birmingham, UK W TKO 4
WBA World Welterweight Title
IBF Welterweight Title
1984-09-22 Nino LaRocca Monte Carlo, MC W KO 6
WBA World Welterweight Title
IBF Welterweight Title
1984-04-21 Elio Diaz Fort Worth, US W TKO 8
WBA World Welterweight Title
IBF Welterweight Title
1984-02-04 Marlon Starling Atlantic City, US W UD 15
WBA World Welterweight Title
IBF Welterweight Title
1983-09-03 Roger Stafford Marsala, IT W TKO 1
WBA World Welterweight Title
1983-02-13 Jun-Suk Hwang Fort Worth, US W UD 15
vacant WBA World Welterweight Title
1982-10-23 Marlon Starling Atlantic City, US W SD 12
NABF Welterweight Title
USBA Welterweight Title
1982-07-10 Adolfo Viruet McAfee, US W PTS 10
1982-06-15 Jake Torrance Nashville, US W DQ 4
1982-05-04 Bruce Finch Las Vegas, US W TKO 4
NABF Welterweight Title
1982-03-10 Mike Senegal Lake Charles, US W TKO 10
1981-11-26 Curtis Ramsey Las Vegas, US W PTS 10
1981-10-29 Vernon Lewis Fort Worth, US W KO 1
1981-08-22 Eddie Casper Las Vegas, US W TKO 1
1981-07-02 Eddie Campbell Atlantic City, US W KO 6
1981-05-28 Joe Moliere Las Vegas, US W KO 1
1981-04-23 Danny Favella Fort Worth, US W TKO 5
1981-03-26 Rigoberto Lopez Las Vegas, US W TKO 4
1981-02-26 Jerry Reyes Las Vegas, US W TKO 2
1981-01-16 Juan Ramirez San Antonio, US W TKO 2
1980-12-26 Mario Tineo Las Vegas, US W TKO 1