Beating Floyd like Lloyd

Lloyd Honeyghan reveals to Ricky Hatton and skysports.com the blue print for beating undefeated champs in America.

Some 21 years ago Londoner Lloyd Honeyghan stunned the boxing world by beating previously unbeaten undisputed world welterweight champion Don Curry in Caesars Palace, Atlantic City. Honeyghan believes Hatton can use his success as a blueprint for victory against Floyd Mayweather. skysports.com spoke to Honeyghan, now aged 47, about that famous night. Lloyd Honeyghan went across the Atlantic given little hope of causing an upset against Don 'Lone Star Cobra' Curry. After all, Curry, the 25-year-old American was commonly regarded as the world's best pound-for-pound fighter. Combining great hand-speed with brutal power the American boasted an unbeaten 25-fight record and Honeyghan was to be the eighth defence of his WBA crown. Curry had built up a fearsome reputation by dismantling Welshman Colin Jones inside four rounds and also destroying the highly-rated WBC champion Milton McCrory with a second round defeat to unify the titles. Honeyghan was simply dismissed as cannon-fodder by Curry and his team, as they eyed a move up in weight to take on the likes of Marvin Hagler or Tommy Hearns, two 1980s ring legends. However, Curry's apparent complacency was fully exploited by Honeyghan, the Jamaican-born Brit, who possessed a stubborn and an unshakable belief he could defeat the champion. "I knew I would win that fight because I had been training for it since I was an 11-year-old," Honeyghan told skysports.com. "I ran on the streets when snow fell and when rain fell to be a world champion." The then 26-year-old had learned his trade under the astute management of Mickey Duff, quietly developing his skills and winning British, European and Commonwealth welterweight titles. Yet because few in the US media had heard of Honeyghan, he faced a difficult time in the countdown to the fight, a problem he believes Hatton will also have to overcome in the United States. "The American media and Don King showed me no respect," said Honeyghan. "They were slagging me off at the press conference and laughing at me. "I remember walking to the boardwalk to get some pictures taken pre-fight and they were talking about his next fight against Hagler. I had steam coming out of ears. I said it was 'my destiny to win the world title' and when he replied, 'what makes you so sure you can beat the Cobra?', I said, 'I've never seen a snake beat a mongoose'. "I was born in Jamaica and in my homeland the mongoose got rid of all the snakes. They all laughed at me again, and I said, 'I ain't taking any more pictures, I'll see you Saturday,' and left. At that moment Curry must have thought, either, I've got this guy rattled or I'm in trouble. I think he thought it was the latter." On that September night in Atlantic City Honeyghan produced a master class in aggressive, clinical punching with a style and panache rarely seen by a British fighter. From the first bell he never let the gifted Curry settle and shaded a tight first round. The Brit poured on the pressure in round two and a powerful downward right stunned the American. Curry hit back in rounds three and four taking a grip of the bout with his swift combinations as Honeyghan struggled to cope with the champion. However, the fight swung spectacularly back in the direction of the Brit in round five, as he fired two heavy blows to Curry's head. Suddenly, the champion appeared drained of energy as Honeyghan went in for the kill, launching a flurry of punches at the bemused and bewildered American. More brutal punishment followed in the sixth as the Brit sought to wrestle the undisputed welterweight title from his grasp. Eventually, Honeyghan's relentless, come-forward style proved too much for Curry and with his nose broken and bad cut to the eye, Curry walked back to his stool at the end of round six and never returned for the seventh. Honeyghan was world champion. While Hatton's odds of 11-8 on Skybet to overcome Mayweather are not quite as long as Honeyghan's were on beating Curry, the former champion believes the Manchester mauler can learn some important tips from his victory. "Lateral movement," insisted Honeyghan. "I've got the blueprint for how Ricky Hatton should do it against Mayweather. I should send him a tape and ask him to watch it. Don Curry couldn't handle it, it's all lateral movement."

Other British shock victories on foreign shores...

Ted Kid Lewis v Jack Britton - Boston, Aug 31, 1915
Just five months after losing to Britton, Lewis, the Aldgate Sphinx, reaps revenge by edging a points decision after 12 brutal rounds. Ken Buchanan v Ismael Laguna, San Juan Sept 26 1970
The Scotsman had taken Laguna's WBA lightweight title in Puerto Rico the previous year and in the re-match in Puerto Rico - in 100 degrees of heat - he claimed a split points win. John H Stracey v Jose Angel Napoles Mexico City Dec 6 1975
East Londoner Stracey recovers from a first round knock down to stop the legendary Cuban defector, Napoles, in round six in front of 60,000 people. Danny Williams v Mike Tyson, Louisville, Jul 30 2004
The Brixton Bomber soaks up some early pressure to finish the former world heavyweight champion with a flurry of punches in round four.