40 years ago

Date: 22nd September 1984

Title: WBA & IBF World Welterweight Titles

Promoter: Top Rank

Tv: ESPN

Donald Curry
( 19 - 0 - 0 )
Weight: 147 lbs

Nino La Rocca
( 58 - 1 - 0 )
Weight: 146¾ lbs

Donald Curry successfully defended his WBA and IBF welterweight titles in a fight against Nino La Rocca on September 22, 1984. The bout took place at Chapiteau de l'Espace Fontvieille in Fontvieille, Monaco, and was promoted by Top Rank. The referee was South African Stanley Christodoulou.

Donald Curry, who was 19-0-0 before the fight, went into the bout weighing 145 3/4 pounds, while La Rocca weighed in at 146 pounds and 12 ounces. The fight went six rounds, with Curry ultimately emerging victorious by way of knockout. The victory brought Curry an impressive $400,000 payday.

Throughout the fight, Curry proved to be the more dominant fighter. In the early rounds, he landed several strong punches that visibly rocked La Rocca. In the sixth round, Curry delivered a powerful left hook that sent La Rocca crashing to the canvas. The referee immediately stopped the fight, giving Curry the win by knockout.

Curry's victory against La Rocca marked his fourth successful defense of the WBA World Welterweight Title and his second successful defense of the IBF Welterweight Title. At the time of the fight, Curry was just 23 years old and had a record of 20-0, with 14 knockouts.