It was 38 lengthy, lengthy years in the past in the present day when huge underdog Lloyd Honeyghan pulled off what was referred to as, on the time, a ‘miracle win.’ There was, fairly actually, dancing within the streets again residence within the UK after Honeyghan, whether or not he was an 8/1 underdog, a 9/1 underdog, or a ten/1 canine, smashed the daylights out of Donald Curry.
Curry was not solely the welterweight king, however he was additionally the pound-for-pound finest within the sport on the time, based on most specialists. Greater than that, Curry, excellent at 25-0, was being referred to as ‘the subsequent Sugar Ray Leonard.’ As a substitute, Honeyghan grew to become the largest star in British boxing, in addition to the brand new sensation at 147 kilos.
The struggle occurred in Atlantic Metropolis, and although “Ragamuffin Man” Honeyghan was additionally spotless at 27-0, the Jamaican-born Brit had by no means confronted anybody remotely pretty much as good or as particular as Texan Curry. Particular? Curry was not far faraway from scorching and chilling icing of Milton McCrory, and this two-round win is already cementing Curry’s greatness, within the opinion of some. Heck, Curry was so good, so gifted; his discuss of transferring up in weight to problem middleweight ruler Marvelous Marvin Hagler was being taken very severely.
However now, towards the seemingly devil-may-care Honeyghan, Curry was to be worn out. And busted up alongside the way in which.
Curry could have had a troublesome time making the welterweight restrict, however nothing – nothing – may, or can, be taken away from the challenger’s effectively problem. In brief, Honeyghan’s quick, relentless, usually street-fighting strategy was one thing Curry’s high-quality boxing mind was unable to compute. It was, to the shock of your entire boxing world, a beating. And Curry was taking it.
With some butts chucked in for good measure, Honeyghan battered and bloodied the champ, Curry’s rep which means nothing in any respect to Lloyd. Curry couldn’t get into his groove……No, he wasn’t allowed to get into any type of a groove. It was gorgeous to behold. After six rounds, most of which Honeyghan bossed, Curry opted to stay on his stool; the struggle completely knocked him out. New king Honeyghan fell to the mat in sheer elation and pleasure.
The shrewd Micky Duff, supervisor of Honeyghan, knew he’d be heading to the bookies to gather his dough quickly, Duff having positioned a giant wager on his man to win.
Honeyghan, the brand new unhealthy boy of the game in addition to considered one of its most entertaining, had pulled off the largest ‘away’ upset ever scored by a British fighter. All these years later, Honeyghan’s wholly surprising win continues to be celebrated.
By way of the only largest upset ever scored by a British boxer, that accolade has to go to Randy Turpin’s monster win over Sugar Ray Robinson in London in 1951. However the largest win ever scored by a Brit in America, effectively, that title stays in the present day with Honeyghan WRTD6 Curry.
And it’s fully attainable nothing will ever high it.
