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1- Donald Curry-Milton McCrory, 1985, for the undisputed world welterweight title: Donald Curry was a master boxer. Awesome technique and counter punching. A brilliant boxing mind who, if the boxing game is called the Sweet Science, is one of it's most advanced scientists. His technique, in my opinion, was second to very few men in history and there are two very revealing instances from his career stand out to me whenever I think of him. Two moments that help back up my claim of him as being a top "scientist."
One was from his 1985 WBA /WBC welterweight unification fight with Milton McCrory. Both guys were unbeaten at the time and claiming a share of the world welterweight title. McCrory was from the Kronk Gym in Detroit and had won the WBC title with a stirring twelve round decision over the very tough Colin Jones of Wales in a fight definitely proved his mettle. I liked McCrory's good, snappy jab and overall boxing skills as well as his solid amateur background (Milton was the World Junior Champion in 1979 at 139 pounds).
The first round of their late 1985 fight (live on HBO) saw Curry patiently stalked Milton while slipping McCrory's very good left jabs. Timing him. Plotting. Planning. In the second round he pulled off one of the greatest counter punches I have ever seen. Watch the tape sometime and realize that the counter left hook he hit McCrory with was not a fluky thing or a lucky punch. That was planned. Donald waited for McCrory to throw the left jab and he slipped to the left what seemed like just a couple inches and let go a lightning bolt of a left hook. If you wonder why he was called the "Cobra" watch this fight and you will see EXACTLY why. McCrory fell hard to the canvas and the fight was all but over. The ref gave Milton the mandatory eight-count and let the fight continue for another two or three seconds until Donald walked across the ring and let go a wicked right hand that ended the fight. The fight to me ended with that awesome left hook counter that dropped Milton the first time. You may never ever see a counter punch as devastating as that one.
2- Curry also showed me one more standout exhibition of brilliance in his 1990 fight with Brett Lally on ESPN. Curry dropped Lally in the second round with a nice right hand and went to the neutral corner while they gave the shook up Lally the standing eight-count. When they resumed the fight Donald showed me why he is one of the best technical fighters I have ever seen. He does things without thinking, as a reflex that other fighter wish they would have the ability to do. When the ref waved the fight back on Donald bolted out of his corner straight at Lally looking like he was going for an all out assault. At the very last second, just before he got to Lally, Donald stepped quickly to the right out of Lally's line of sight and let go two wicked punches that Lally never even saw coming. Brilliant stuff. Check it out on video sometime.
3- In late 1982 Alexis Arguello and Aaron Pryor met up at the "Orange Bowl" in Miami to fight for the 140 pound world championship. It was a big fight because Arguello was attempting to win his fourth world title and back then, unlike today, it really did mean something to be a four-time world champion. It was a great fight that had both guys showing tremendous skill and will. Later in the fight, when well conditioned and smart professionals do their best work, Aaron Pryor began to show the acquired skills that most people didn't really believe he had. Watch the fight. When Arguello began to tire from the pace of the fight along with that severe Miami heat. Aaron began reaching out with his own left hand and literally pushing Arguello's left hand down towards his waist before coming over the top to land big right hands on Alexis' unprotected left cheek. Those were not freak shots. They were beautiful, slick moves that set up brilliantly placed shots by Aaron.
4. Hearns-Duran. 1984. Everybody knows what happened. Blow out. Second round KO. Old news. But the way that Tommy finished Duran with that laser beam right hand. That wasn't just a right hand. Look at the tape sometime. Tommy had great range and he was using that to set up those right hands for the whole brief time the fight lasted. Watch it. He was looking at Roberto, measuring him and gauging his range while hiding the right hand. Tilting his left shoulder just a bit to the right to hide Duran's view of Tommy's right hand. When he would stick his long left hand it further obstructed Duran's view of Tommy's right side and I am sure that Duran never even saw that last direct, streamline right hand leave the chamber of the rocket launcher it came out of.
Just like Curry's KO'sof McCrory and Lally, this performance was an exhibition in brilliant boxing technique.
5. The ninth round between Mickey Ward and Arturo Gatti in their first fight and the first round of the 1985 Hagler-Hearns rumble.
You saw them. No commentary needed.
One was from his 1985 WBA /WBC welterweight unification fight with Milton McCrory. Both guys were unbeaten at the time and claiming a share of the world welterweight title. McCrory was from the Kronk Gym in Detroit and had won the WBC title with a stirring twelve round decision over the very tough Colin Jones of Wales in a fight definitely proved his mettle. I liked McCrory's good, snappy jab and overall boxing skills as well as his solid amateur background (Milton was the World Junior Champion in 1979 at 139 pounds).
The first round of their late 1985 fight (live on HBO) saw Curry patiently stalked Milton while slipping McCrory's very good left jabs. Timing him. Plotting. Planning. In the second round he pulled off one of the greatest counter punches I have ever seen. Watch the tape sometime and realize that the counter left hook he hit McCrory with was not a fluky thing or a lucky punch. That was planned. Donald waited for McCrory to throw the left jab and he slipped to the left what seemed like just a couple inches and let go a lightning bolt of a left hook. If you wonder why he was called the "Cobra" watch this fight and you will see EXACTLY why. McCrory fell hard to the canvas and the fight was all but over. The ref gave Milton the mandatory eight-count and let the fight continue for another two or three seconds until Donald walked across the ring and let go a wicked right hand that ended the fight. The fight to me ended with that awesome left hook counter that dropped Milton the first time. You may never ever see a counter punch as devastating as that one.
2- Curry also showed me one more standout exhibition of brilliance in his 1990 fight with Brett Lally on ESPN. Curry dropped Lally in the second round with a nice right hand and went to the neutral corner while they gave the shook up Lally the standing eight-count. When they resumed the fight Donald showed me why he is one of the best technical fighters I have ever seen. He does things without thinking, as a reflex that other fighter wish they would have the ability to do. When the ref waved the fight back on Donald bolted out of his corner straight at Lally looking like he was going for an all out assault. At the very last second, just before he got to Lally, Donald stepped quickly to the right out of Lally's line of sight and let go two wicked punches that Lally never even saw coming. Brilliant stuff. Check it out on video sometime.
3- In late 1982 Alexis Arguello and Aaron Pryor met up at the "Orange Bowl" in Miami to fight for the 140 pound world championship. It was a big fight because Arguello was attempting to win his fourth world title and back then, unlike today, it really did mean something to be a four-time world champion. It was a great fight that had both guys showing tremendous skill and will. Later in the fight, when well conditioned and smart professionals do their best work, Aaron Pryor began to show the acquired skills that most people didn't really believe he had. Watch the fight. When Arguello began to tire from the pace of the fight along with that severe Miami heat. Aaron began reaching out with his own left hand and literally pushing Arguello's left hand down towards his waist before coming over the top to land big right hands on Alexis' unprotected left cheek. Those were not freak shots. They were beautiful, slick moves that set up brilliantly placed shots by Aaron.
4. Hearns-Duran. 1984. Everybody knows what happened. Blow out. Second round KO. Old news. But the way that Tommy finished Duran with that laser beam right hand. That wasn't just a right hand. Look at the tape sometime. Tommy had great range and he was using that to set up those right hands for the whole brief time the fight lasted. Watch it. He was looking at Roberto, measuring him and gauging his range while hiding the right hand. Tilting his left shoulder just a bit to the right to hide Duran's view of Tommy's right hand. When he would stick his long left hand it further obstructed Duran's view of Tommy's right side and I am sure that Duran never even saw that last direct, streamline right hand leave the chamber of the rocket launcher it came out of.
Just like Curry's KO'sof McCrory and Lally, this performance was an exhibition in brilliant boxing technique.
5. The ninth round between Mickey Ward and Arturo Gatti in their first fight and the first round of the 1985 Hagler-Hearns rumble.
You saw them. No commentary needed.
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