Classic Boxing Matches's video: Donald Curry vs Milton McCrory 6 12 1985 - IBF WBA WBC World Welterweight Championships

In anticipation for Manny Pacquiao vs Adrien Broner this weekend for the WBA (regular) World Welterweight title, lets go back to 1985 and watch the unification of the IBF, WBA and WBC versions of the belts. More info below... "The Lone Star Cobra" Donald Curry had a great amateur career, with a supposed 404-4 record. He turned pro in Dec 1980 with a 1st Rd TKO and would go undefeated for the next 6 years. In 1982 Curry would knockout recent world title challenger, Bruce Finch, in 4 rounds to win the NABF Welterweight title. Later in the year, Curry would face undefeated USBA Welterweight Champion, Marlon Starling, with both men putting their respective titles on the line. After 12 back and forward rounds Curry came away with a split decision win. In 1983 Curry would be paired with undefeated OPBF Welterweight Champion, Jun-Suk Hwang, to compete for the vacant WBA World Welterweight title left behind by a retiring Sugar Ray Leonard. Although Curry was knocked down for the first time in his career he finished strongly to win the WBA title by unanimous decision. In his first defence Curry would make a statement by stopping Roger Stafford by 1st Rd TKO. In 1984 Curry was awarded the IBF World Welterweight title to become their inaugural champion, and then defended the title against old rival Marlon Starling earning a 15 round decision. Curry successfully defended the IBF and WBA titles 3 times before trying his hand at super welterweight for a couple fights. In Dec 1985 he went back down to welterweight so he could challenge Milton McCrory for the WBC Welterweight title and unify the belts. Curry was still undefeated with a 23-0 record. Milton "Ice Man" McCrory had also turned pro in 1980 and carved an impressive path in the welterweight division by winning his first 17 fights by KO. In 1982 McCrory stepped up the level of his competition and picked up some impressive wins to prove he wasn't just a heavy hitter but he could box to. He forced former World title challenger and veteran Randy Shields to retire on his stool after 7 rounds and then he outpointed both Roger Stafford and former NABF Welterweight Champion Pete Ranzany. 1983 McCrory earned his first world title shot for the vacant WBC Welterweight title against Colin Jones, but the fight was declared a draw. The pair had a rematch 5 months later for the WBC title again and it was just as close but this time McCrory was awarded a split decision to win the title. McCrory successfully defended the title 4 times that included stopping European Welterweight Champion Gilles Elbilia and outpointing undefeated NABF Welterweight Champion Pedro Vilella. McCrory entered the unification fight with Donald Curry holding a 27-0-1 record. The fight was hotly anticipated as both men were undefeated and had proven themselves worthy champions although Curry was the favourite. Curry had dominated the first round and appeared to have McCrory in trouble but he was guilty of being overeager and couldn't finish McCrory off. In Rd 2 Curry wouldn't make the same mistake... Curry was warned for a low blow early but he stalked the retreating McCrory around the ring looking for his opening and eventually he found it thanks to a picture perfect left hook that dropped McCrory hard. McCrory somehow got to his feet on unsteady legs but the referee let it continue and McCrory walked right into an overhand right that dropped him again. Curry threw the overhand right and then simply turned and walked away seemingly aware the fight was over. Ref Mills Lane counted the 10 while McCrory was still on his back. Curry had become the first person since Sugar Ray Leonard back in 1982 to unify the World Welterweight titles. Unfortunately Curry wasn't able to maintain his status as the best welterweight in the world for very long because in 1986 during a defence of the unified WBC, WBA and IBF titles, he would be forced to retire on his stool after 6 rounds against Lloyd Honeyghan. Curry was reportedly struggling with making weight prior to the fight and he was also dealing with emotional distress following the recent passing of his grandfather. Curry did bounce back by winning the USBA Super Welterweight title from Carlos Santos in 1987 to earn him a shot at the WBA Super Welterweight title against Mike McCallum but he was stopped in 5 rounds. In 1988 Curry pulled of his final great performance when he won the WBC Super Welterweight World title from Gianfranco Rosi, forcing him to retire after 9 rounds. Curry retired in 1991 but returned to the ring in 1997 for 2 more fights before finally retiring for good with a 34-6 record.