Bruce Curry (born March 29, 1956 in Marlin, Texas), is a former professional boxer. He was the WBC Super Lightweight Champion from 1983 to 1984.
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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.[1]
Curry turned professional in 1976 and won his first fourteen professional fights. On November 18, 1977, he fought Wilfred Benitez, 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."[2]
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.[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.[4] Another Curry brother, Graylin, was also a professional boxer.[5]
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.[6]
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.[7]
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.[8]
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.
| Preceded by Leroy Haley |
WBC Super Lightweight Champion 18 May 1983 – 29 Jan 1984 |
Succeeded by Billy Costello |