BOXING legend Donald Curry is suffering with a brain disease – his son revealed in a heartbreaking plea.
Curry – a champion in two weight divisions – has been diagnosed with Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome.
TES is is a clinical presentation of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) – a brain condition resulting commonly from repeated head trauma.
Curry’s son Donovan posted online: “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 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.
CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, refers to a brain degeneration caused by frequent head traumas
Other elements may play a role, including genetics, but exact factors are yet to be discovered, as reported by the Boston University CTE Center.
CTE is only diagnosed through an autopsy of the brain and is known to be a rather rare disease.
It is most commonly found in athletes, including football players and fighters.
Some symptoms of CTE include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and progressive dementia.
These signs can begin to appear after years or even decades after the last brain trauma.
“Thank you for your time and support during this challenging time.”
Curry held the welterweight and light-middleweight titles during his career – famously fighting Lloyd Honeyghan, Mike McCallum and Terry Norris.
The American last fought in 1997 – losing to Emmett Linton – and retiring with a record of 34–6.
Curry, now 63, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2019 following a remarkable career.
But it was in 2021 that Curry’s sons first feared their famous fighting father may be suffering from CTE.
