Rene Jacquot vs Donald Curry

On February 11, 1989, the Palais des Sports in Grenoble, Isère, hosted what turned out to be a historic boxing event as Rene Jacquot challenged Donald Curry for the WBC World Super-welterweight Title. The bout marked Curry's first title defence of the title he had won in San Remo, Italy, seven months earlier from local hero Gianfranco Rosi. Curry vs Jacquot was televised in America on CBS Sports. Jacquot, a Frenchman with a record of 23-9-1, faced off against Curry, who boasted a formidable 31-2-0 record. Despite being the underdog, Jacquot had the advantage of fighting in front of a home crowd of 6,000 enthusiastic supporters. The event was promoted by RMO Promotions and refereed by Belgium's Jean Deswert.

The fight began with Curry showcasing his superior boxing skills, building an early lead that validated the pre-fight odds. However, as the bout progressed into its second half, Jacquot's relentless pressure began to take its toll on Curry. The American fighter, known as "The Lone Star Cobra," started to tire, allowing Jacquot to seize control of the fight. This shift in momentum was crucial, as Jacquot managed to outwork Curry over the later rounds, ultimately securing a unanimous decision victory. The judges' scores reflected Jacquot's dominance in the latter stages: Sid Nathan scored 117-113, Jesus Torres scored 118-116, and Justo Vasquez Marcos scored 117-115, all favouring Jacquot.

Jacquot's historic victory was the first time a French boxer won a world championship in 30 years. This achievement made Jacquot an instant sporting hero in France. The upset was so notable that it was named The Ring magazine's Upset of the Year 1989. Curry's performance was somewhat marred by his struggles with conditioning, as he had previously faced challenges making weight in other fights. Despite his early lead, Curry's inability to sustain his pace allowed Jacquot to capitalize and claim the title.

The aftermath of the fight saw Jacquot bask in the glory of his unexpected victory while Curry reflected on his performance. Curry had previously experienced setbacks due to family misfortunes and weight issues, which might have contributed to his decline in form. The loss marked a significant turning point in Curry's career as he struggled to regain his former dominance in the boxing world. Meanwhile, Jacquot's win marked a resurgence in French boxing, inspiring a new generation of fighters.