Donald Curry, a boxing legend who was champion in two weight classes in his career, has been diagnosed with a brain disease that has caused his family to appeal for support to fund his treatment.
The 63-year-old has been diagnosed with Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome, a brain condition that develops due to repeated head trauma.
As a result Donovan Curry, son of Donald, has reached out and asked the public for help.
“I’m reaching out to the boxing community to ask for assistance in finding a long-term healthcare facility for my dad,” he wrote.
“A few years ago, with the help of 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.”
Why Curry can’t stay at church facility
Donovan noted why his father can no longer stay at the church facility, noting he has been involved in “incidents of fighting and breaking rules.”
“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,” he wrote.
“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’s career saw him record 34 wins from 40 professional bouts, facing the likes of Lloyd Honeyghan, Terry Norris and Mike McCallum.
He lost his last fight to Emmett Linton in 1997 before retiring, and was later inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019.