As Showtime Championship Boxing celebrates its 30th anniversary, one has to look back on the biggest upset ever aired on the premium boxing network. On September 27th, 1986, Britain’s own Lloyd Honeyghan bruised and battered Donald Curry to become the undisputed welterweight champion of the world. To understand the perceived contrast in the class of fighters both Curry and Honeyghan were, one would only have to look at their nicknames. Honeyghan was known as The Ragamuffin Man, nothing flattering there. While Curry was known as The Lone Star Cobra.
To appreciate just how big an upset this was at the time, you have to understand just how bright a star Curry was. How special he was perceived to be. In 1985 Curry destroyed Kronk Gym protégé Milton McCrory in a highly anticipated unification showdown shown on HBO Boxing. He was described as a boxer who did everything correct; straight punches, wicked combinations, solid defence. Curry’s press clippings were so glorious; many boxing scribes believed he was to be the eventual conqueror of long-time Undisputed Middleweight Champion, Marvelous Marvin Hagler. Bob Arum had a showdown between Hagler and Curry in his sights. Along with millions of dollars.
By 1986, Top Rank and Bob Arum had a falling out with HBO. Curry landing on Showtime was the shrapnel. It was supposed to mean Showtime inherited one of the biggest gems in boxing for their subscribers to eyeball for years to come. Somebody forgot to provide The Ragamuffin Man with the script. Lloyd Honeyghan was 27-0 going into the bout. He held wins over respectable names such as Harold Brazier, Gianfranco Rossi and Roger Stafford. Why Honeyghan was such a decided underdog might be a head-scratcher for anyone who did not live during those times. As the number one contender of the WBC, at the very least he should have been considered a live underdog – If anyone bothered to watch him fight that is.
Honeyghan’s straight ahead, in your face style, was something Curry had not seen before, not from as skilled a fighter as Honeyghan. As they say in the boxing game, The Ragamuffin Man was “all wrong for” The Lone Star Cobra. However, when you are anointed with a cloak of invincibility, as Curry was, nobody bothered to consider there was a pretty dam good fighter, who was hungry, lacing ’em up on that September night in 1986. A fighter other than Donald Curry.
Honeyghan’s game plan worked like a charm. He got inside on Curry early, hurt him, cut him, and never allowed The Lone Star Cobra to get set. The Jamaican-born Brit took the lustre of Curry’s star in shock and awe style. Horrifying Bob Arum and the Showtime audience in the process. After six rounds, the battered and discouraged Curry wanted no more of the man he was favoured to beat by huge odds. If you were lucky enough to find a betting line that is.
Donald Curry continued to fight until 1997. However, he never came close to shining star he was when he entered the ring against Honeyghan. While talks of Curry besting Marvelous Marvin Hagler might seem outrageous today, it was real talk circa 1986. Nowadays, Curry’s name is being thrown around in discussions regarding the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Many boxing observer’s feel Curry’s resume is strong enough to deserve his day in Canastota, New York. With big ticket names such as Evander Holyfield, Marco Antonio Barrera and Johnny Tapia up for election this year, Donald Curry has as good a chance of getting into the IBHOF, as was thought Honeyghan had when they fought. This time, there will be no upset. This is not to suggest Donald Curry is not worthy of being inducted into the HOF. He might very well make it in a “down” year; however, that is for others to decide.
As for Lloyd Honeyghan. The Ragamuffin Man went on to fight until 1995. He had notable, crowd-pleasing, fight fans fights; with the likes of Johnny Bumphus, Gene Hatcher and Maurice Blocker. However, as with Donald Curry, Honeyghan was matched up against fighters that were all wrong for him, such as Marlon Starling and Mark Breland. Lloyd Honeyghan never had as big a win as he did on that magical night in 1986. 30 years later, Showtime has never had as big an upset.
