Donald Curry’s cry for help

Donovan Curry, son of the legendary Lone Star Cobra, Donald, the Hall of Fame welterweight, has taken to social media once more to issue a plea for help for his father.

Curry is now 63 years old but life after boxing has been an immense struggle. Four years ago, Donovan reached out to the boxing community online as life was becoming too challenging for his father.

Curry was 34-6 (25 KOs) when he retired, boxing the likes of Mike McCallum, Michael Nunn, Milton McCrory and a host of other significant names from the era.  

He has since spent years in and out of jail and care facilities, trapped in a cycle caused by long-term damage from the ring.

“Boxing has kicked him to the kerb,” Donovan told me four years ago. “He has no money, he has no transportation, he’s been living with my aunt since I was a child. He lost the house we lived in with my mom when I was three and he’s not had a home of his own since then and I’m 29 years old. He’s literally lost everything.” 

This week, Donovan reiterated his online call for help from boxing, one that was immediately answered by WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman, who has reached out. 

Sulaiman told BoxingScene he was putting a team in place to help the Currys with, what he called, a “a very complex situation.”

On X, Donovan wrote: “Hello, this is Donovan, Donald’s son. I’m reaching out to the boxing community to ask for assistance in finding a long-term healthcare facility for my dad. A few years ago, with the help of [the WBC’s] Chuck Williams, my dad underwent a brain scan at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health, where he was officially diagnosed with Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome (TES). This condition has caused impairments in judgment, reasoning, memory, and behavior, including poor impulse control. For some time, he was being cared for at an incredible church facility in Fort Worth, thanks to the support of his former trainer, Paul Reyes, who recently passed away. However, due to incidents of fighting and breaking rules, my dad had to leave. He is currently staying in a hotel in Fort Worth.

“We are searching for a facility that specializes in patients with conditions like my dad’s, ideally one that operates at no cost. If you know of any resources, facilities, or organizations that could help, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

“Thank you for your time and support during this challenging time.”

Curry told me of his father: “I feel it’s gotten a lot worse since the years progressed. Although I thought he was changing a little bit maybe when I was at High School, I could never put my finger on it but it’s definitely progressed… I know my dad needs some type of help because to me there’s no reason he should be where he is, especially having been this great fighter. There should be no reason he’s living the way he’s living now.”

Curry’s handle on X, for those who might be able to help, is @LoneStarCobraTX.