Boxer who loved the sounds more
Hughroy Currie, who was British heavyweight boxing champion amid Frank Bruno’s heyday, who has died aged 61, had another career running sound systems across London.
The Brockley-raised fighter, who had suffered from a string of health problems in his later years, died in hospital after catching Covid-19 and passed away on January 22.
He had hit Fuso Banjo with a late rally in their 1985 bout to take the British title vacated by Dave Pearce – and lost the belt nine months later in six rounds against Horice Notice on the Isle of Man.
He had been known in the ring as Trevor Currie – but never to his family.
Another Brockley fight legend, Lloyd Honeghan, world welterweight champion from 1986-87 and a friend since their teens, said: “I have lost my best friend. I have not stopped crying since it happened.
“We were still kids when we met and we soon became best friends.
“We turned pro around the same time. He had a lot of ability so I do not know why he did not have a bigger career.
“I was totally focused on my own career in those years – you have to be dedicated because they do not hand titles to you. But he had a technical side and he was a good puncher.
“He was happy and healthy the last time I saw him but then he developed problems very quickly.
“I begged to see him in Lewisham Hospital but the staff would not let me because of Covid.”
But Hughroy and his brother Billy also spent much of their youth as leading lights in the sound system scene.
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Hughroy, also known as Trevor, went to West Greenwich Secondary School, Blackheath Road, Greenwich, after coming to London with his family.
He joined Catford and Lewisham Boxing Club and had his first professional fight in February 1981, a win over Mick Chmilowskyi.
He won only three of his first eight fights, but then a run of five straight wins led to a challenge for the Southern Area title against Funso Banjo, which he lost on points over 10 rounds.
Currie then won two fights in the US and must have learned a lot. Because in September 1985 he fought Banjo once again, this time for the British heavyweight title.
Holder Pearce had KO’d Currie in a British amateur bout – and Currie was relieved not to face Pearce, who had been forced to vacate.
Currie won a 12-round points decision against Banjo to become British champion.
His next fight was an eliminator for the Commonwealth title against Proud Kilimanjaro, which he won over 10 rounds.
He lost his British title at the first defence to Horace Notice in April 1986, Notice winning by a sixth-round TKO.
Currie won four of his next five fights, including a second-round knockout of Glenn McCrory, leading to another shot at the then vacant British title against Gary Mason – but the Battersea boxer won in the fourth round.
Currie then fought another South Londoner, Stockwell’s Derek Williams in December 1989 for the Commonwealth title and the vacant EBU European title; Williams won by a first-round TKO.
That proved to be Currie’s final fight and he retired from boxing as a knee and a foot problem prevented him from boxing at his best.
He ended his career with a record of 17-11-1. Hughroy and brother Billy grew up in a music-obsessed culture, with U-Roy, Dennis Bovell of Matumbi, Jah Shaka, Sticks Man and Dennis Alcapone among their circle in Jamaica and the UK.
Brother Billy said: “We used to play places in London but travelled as far as Wolverhampton.
We got stopped 101 times by the police.
“There was nothing for kids in those days – they hung around shopping centres otherwise.
“We had to be tough. It was that kind of time.
“My brother would have been more successful as a boxer but he was more into the sound system.
“His love for the sound system took some of his energy away from boxing.
“If it hadn’t been for that, he could have got to the top.”