Honeyghan Takes World Welterweight Title From Curry

Lloyd Honeyghan looked Donald Curry in the eye before the fight began Saturday night and thought he saw Curry’s undisputed welterweight championship as his own.

Then the 26-year-old Briton, considered an outclassed underdog, went out and took the title from the previously unbeaten Curry, generally considered to be one of the best fighters in the world.

Honeyghan shook Curry on several occasions, then ripped a cut over his left eye in the sixth round. Ringside physicians Frank Doggett and Paul Williams examined the cut, and referee Octavio Meyran stopped the bout, making Honeyghan’s vision a reality.

“When I was 12, I saw Muhammad Ali on television and I said I wanted to be like that man, champion of the world,” said Honeyghan, a native of Jamaica who lives in London.

Honeyghan said he had looked at tapes of Curry’s victories over Nino La Rocca and Marlon Starling and found out all he needed to know about the 25-year-old champion from Fort Worth, Tex.

“I watched the tapes twice and gave them to my trainer,” Honeyghan said. “I told him, ‘I’ve seen enough. I’m a quick learner.’ ”

Honeyghan, 28-0 with 18 knockouts, is one of boxing’s two undisputed champions. The other is middleweight Marvelous Marvin Hagler.

Curry, losing for the first time after 25 victories, including 20 by knockouts, earned $300,000 for his third defense of the undisputed title. Honeyghan earned $162,750. Both fighters weighed 146 1/2 pounds.