Bruce Curry
Encyclopedia
Bruce Curry is a former professional boxer
. He was the WBC
Super Lightweight
Champion from 1983 to 1984.
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.
, the former WBA
Junior Welterweight
Champion. Curry knocked Benitez down three times but lost by a controversial ten-round split decision.
He signed to fight Minoru Fugiya in Japan on January 24, 1978. He was then offered a rematch with Benitez, which would take place on February 4. He decided to go take both fights. He knocked out Fugiya 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."
Curry won his next two fights and then lost back-to-back fights, getting stopped in nine rounds by Domingo Ayala and lossing 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. 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.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. He was the WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
Super Lightweight
Light welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
Champion from 1983 to 1984.
Amateur career
Curry was a two-time Texas Golden GlovesGolden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
Champion and runner-up to Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
at the 1976 U.S. Olympic
Summer Olympic Games
The Summer Olympic Games or the Games of the Olympiad are an international multi-sport event, occurring every four years, organized by the International Olympic Committee. Medals are awarded in each event, with gold medals for first place, silver for second and bronze for third, a tradition that...
Boxing Trials. Curry reportedly had an amateur record of 315-11.
Professional career
Curry turned professional in 1976 and won his first fourteen professional fights. On November 18, 1977, he fought Wilfred BenitezWilfred Benitez
Wilfred Benítez , is a Puerto Rican boxer. He is remembered best as a skilled and aggressive fighter with exceptional defensive abilities who won world championships in three separate weight divisions, and was the youngest world champion in boxing history at the age of 17...
, the former WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
Junior Welterweight
Light welterweight
-Professional boxing:The light welterweight class is a weight division in professional boxing that has a limit of 63.5 kg or 140 pounds...
Champion. Curry knocked Benitez down three times but lost by a controversial ten-round split decision.
He signed to fight Minoru Fugiya in Japan on January 24, 1978. He was then offered a rematch with Benitez, which would take place on February 4. He decided to go take both fights. He knocked out Fugiya 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."
Curry won his next two fights and then lost back-to-back fights, getting stopped in nine rounds by Domingo Ayala and lossing to Adolfo Viruet
Adolfo Viruet
Adolfo Viruet is a retired Puerto Rican boxer. His brother Edwin was also a professional boxer.Viruet was a contender in the light welterweight and welterweight divisions during the late 1970s and early 1980s, fighting such opponents as Roberto Durán, Sugar Ray Leonard, Donald Curry, Bruce Curry,...
by a ten-round decision. Curry put together three straight wins and then fought Thomas Hearns
Thomas Hearns
Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is a retired American boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions...
, 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
Leroy Haley
Leroy Haley , is a former American boxer at Light Welterweight.- Professional career :Known as "Irish", Haley turned pro in 1973 and captured the WBC light welterweight title with a split decision win over Saoul Mamby in 1982. He defended the belt twice before losing it to Bruce Curry by decision...
by a twelve-round unanimous decision to win the WBC Super Lightweight Championship. Curry's younger brother, Donald
Donald Curry
Donald Curry is a retired boxer from Fort Worth, Texas, United States. Nicknamed the "Lone Star Cobra," Curry was the Undisputed World Welterweight Champion and the WBC Super Welterweight Champion.-Amateur career:...
, won the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
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
Billy Costello
Billy Costello was a professional boxer in the United States.-Early Life:...
.
On February 2, 1984, Curry was arrested in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
after he fired several shots at his trainer, Jesse Reid
Jesse Reid
Jesse Reid is a boxer and Hall of Fame trainer. His former students include world champions Roger Mayweather, Lamon Brewster, Johnny Tapia, Orlando Canizales, Reggie Johnson and Bruce Curry...
, 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.