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Bruce Curry

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bruce Curry
Born (1956-03-29) March 29, 1956 (age 68)
Statistics
Weight(s)Light welterweight
Height5 ft 9.5 in (176 cm) [1]
Reach67 in (170 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights41
Wins33
Wins by KO17
Losses8

Bruce Curry (born March 29, 1956, in Marlin, Texas), is an American former professional boxer. He was the WBC Super Lightweight Champion from 1983 to 1984.

Family

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He is a member of a very traditional family in the boxing scene: he is the oldest of three brothers and all boxers (Bruce's younger brother Donald Curry is considered the most successful boxer in the family, having won four belts in the welterweight category (WBC, WBA, IBF and The Ring), and one in the light middleweight category (WBC), plus a spot in the International Boxing Hall of Fame).

Amateur career

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Curry was a two-time Texas Golden Gloves Champion and runner-up to Sugar Ray Leonard at the 1976 U.S. Olympic Boxing Trials. Curry reportedly had an amateur record of 315-11. During his amateur career he was trained by Wesley Gale Parker.

Professional career

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Curry turned professional in 1976 and won his first fourteen professional fights. On November 18, 1977, he fought Wilfred Benítez, the former WBA Junior Welterweight Champion. Curry knocked Benitez down three times but lost by a controversial ten-round split decision due to the scoring system.

He signed to fight Minoru Sugiya in Japan on January 26, 1978. He was then offered a rematch with Benitez, which would take place a mere 11 days later, on February 4. He decided to go take both fights. He knocked out Sugiya in three rounds and then flew back to the U.S. for the Benitez fight, which Benitez won by a ten-round majority decision. Benitez trained harder for the rematch and Curry was travel-worn. "I just wanted to get it done and go to bed," Curry said. "I should have sent out for coffee."[2]

Curry won his next two fights and then lost back-to-back fights, getting stopped in nine rounds by Domingo Ayala and losing to Adolfo Viruet by a ten-round decision. Curry put together three straight wins and then fought Thomas Hearns, who was 19-0 with 18 knockouts. The 6' 1" Hearns stopped Curry in three rounds, however, the fight is best remembered in boxing circles as a rare but true example of "going down swinging," with Curry punching valiantly even as he fell to the canvas.

He won eleven of his next thirteen fights and then got his first world title shot. On May 18, 1983, Curry beat Leroy Haley by a twelve-round unanimous decision to win the WBC Super Lightweight Championship.[3] Curry's younger brother, Donald, won the WBA Welterweight Championship several months earlier. They were the first pair of brothers to hold world titles simultaneously. Another Curry brother, Graylin, was also a professional boxer.

Curry made two successful title defenses, knocking out Hidekazu Akai in seven rounds and winning a rematch with Haley by a twelve-round split decision. On January 29, 1984, Curry lost the title by a tenth-round knockout to Billy Costello.

On February 2, 1984, Curry was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada, after he fired several shots at his trainer, Jesse Reid, following an altercation at a gym. He had fought with Reid after blaming him for his loss to Costello. Curry was charged with assault with a deadly weapon and carrying a concealed weapon.

Curry was found innocent by reason of insanity and ordered confined to a mental hospital until he was no longer a threat to society. He was released on March 26, 1985, after a team of three psychiatrists said he was no longer mentally ill.

Curry fought just one more time, defeating Tomas Garcia by a ten-round decision on April 29, 1986. He finished with a record of 35-8 with 17 knockouts.

Professional boxing record

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41 fights 33 wins 8 losses
By knockout 17 5
By decision 16 3
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
41 Win 33–8 Tomas Negro Garcia MD 8 (8) 1986-04-29 Casa de Amistad, Harlingen, Texas, U.S.
40 Loss 32–8 Billy Costello TKO 10 (12) 1984-01-29 Civic Center, Beaumont, Texas, U.S. Lost WBC super lightweight title
39 Win 32–7 Leroy Haley SD 12 (12) 1983-10-19 Showboat Hotel & Casino, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained WBC super lightweight title
38 Win 31–7 Hidekazu Akai TKO 7 (12) 1983-07-07 Kinki University Auditorium, Osaka, Japan Retained WBC super lightweight title
37 Win 30–7 Leroy Haley UD 12 (12) 1983-05-18 Dunes Hotel & Casino, Outdoor Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Won WBC super lightweight title
36 Win 29–7 Tyrone Rackley TKO 1 (10) 1983-03-19 Reno-Sparks Convention Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S.
35 Win 28–7 Ronnie Shields UD 12 (12) 1982-11-17 Civic Arena, Saint Joseph, Missouri, U.S. Won USBA super lightweight title
34 Win 27–7 Danny Favella KO 8 (10) 1982-03-25 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
33 Win 26–7 Edward Nuno UD 10 (10) 1982-01-26 Showboat Hotel and Casino, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
32 Win 25–7 Mark Ibanez UD 10 (10) 1981-12-01 Blaisdell Center Arena, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
31 Loss 24–7 Steve Hearon TKO 7 (12) 1981-08-04 Billy Bob's Texas, Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
30 Win 24–6 Pablo Gomez TKO 4 (10) 1981-06-02 Billy Bob's Texas, Fort Worth, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
29 Win 23–6 Alejo Rodriguez PTS 10 (10) 1981-01-15 Will Rogers Coliseum, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
28 Win 22–6 Andres Ramirez TKO 3 (10) 1980-09-25 Caesars Palace, Sports Pavilion, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
27 Loss 21–6 Greg Stephens KO 11 (12) 1980-06-03 Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Lost NABF super lightweight title
26 Win 21–5 Jimmy Jackson KO 7 (10) 1980-01-18 Sahara, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
25 Win 20–5 Greg Stephens UD 10 (10) 1979-09-25 Sahara, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
24 Loss 19–5 Thomas Hearns KO 3 (10) 1979-06-28 Olympia Stadium, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
23 Win 19–4 Willie Rodriguez KO 10 (12) 1979-04-14 Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Retained NABF super lightweight title
22 Win 18–4 Clinton McKenzie UD 10 (10) 1979-02-24 Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. Retained USBA super welterweight title
21 Win 17–4 Wade Hinnant SD 10 (10) 1978-12-05 Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
20 Loss 16–4 Adolfo Viruet UD 10 (10) 1978-10-27 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
19 Loss 16–3 Domingo Ayala TKO 9 (?) 1978-09-09 Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico
18 Win 16–2 Monroe Brooks TKO 9 (12) 1978-04-07 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S. Won NABF super lightweight title
17 Win 15–2 Luis Resto TKO 2 (10) 1978-03-18 Aladdin, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
16 Loss 14–2 Wilfred Benítez MD 10 (10) 1978-02-04 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
15 Win 14–1 Minoru Sugiya TKO 3 (10) 1978-01-26 Japan
14 Loss 13–1 Wilfred Benítez SD 10 (10) 1977-11-18 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S.
13 Win 13–0 Julio Gomez KO 3 (10) 1977-10-19 Stockton Memorial Civic Auditorium, Stockton, California, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Lion Furuyama TKO 5 (10) 1977-07-17 Korakuen Hall, Tokyo, Japan
11 Win 11–0 Rudy Barro TKO 8 (10) 1977-05-25 Stockton, California, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Juan Antonio Merlo UD 8 (8) 1977-05-21 Stade Louis II, Fontvieille, Monaco
9 Win 9–0 Buffalo Suzuki KO 7 (10) 1977-05-15 Japan
8 Win 8–0 Rafael Rodriguez SD 11 (10) 1977-04-15 Dickinson High School, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S. Fighters fought sudden death round, and the fight featured open scoring.
7 Win 7–0 Jimmy Jackson UD 10 (10) 1977-04-04 Sahara, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
6 Win 6–0 Freddie Washington UD 8 (8) 1977-02-21 Sahara, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Clarence Howard TKO 3 (8) 1976-11-10 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Chris Gonzalez TKO 1 (5) 1976-11-04 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Jorge Morales UD 6 (6) 1976-10-27 Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Willie Hearne KO 1 (?) 1976-10-05 Circle Star Theater, San Carlos, California, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Bruce Henderson PTS 5 (5) 1976-09-09 Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, U.S.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ https://boxrec.com/en/box-pro/408 [bare URL]
  2. ^ "THIS TIME CURRY WASN'T SO HOT". Sports Illustrated Vault | Si.com. Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
  3. ^ "Curry Tops Haley For W.B.C. Title". The New York Times. 19 May 1983. Retrieved 2023-03-10.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Preceded by
Monroe Brooks
NABF super lightweight champion
April 7, 1978 – 1978
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Willie Rodriguez
Preceded by
Willie Rodriguez
NABF super lightweight champion
April 14, 1979 – 1979
Vacated
Vacant
Title next held by
Nick Furlano
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBC super lightweight champion
May 18, 1983 – January 29, 1984
Succeeded by