Jacquot Wears Down Curry and Wins Title

Rene Jacquot gave France its first world boxing championship since 1959, scoring a unanimous decision over Donald Curry for the World Boxing Council super-welterweight title Saturday night at Grenoble, France.

Backed by the cheers of a hometown crowd of 6,000, Jacquot overcame a slow start to score a clear victory over Curry, who tired as the 12-round bout progressed.

Judges Sid Nathan of Britain scored it 117-113, Justo Vasquez of Spain, 118-115, and Jesus Arias of Mexico, 118-116, in favor of Jacquot.

Curry previously held the unified welterweight title but lost it in 1986 to Britain’s Lloyd Honeyghan. Curry took the super welterweight title by beating Italy’s Gianfranco Rosi last July.

The last Frenchman to hold a world boxing crown was Alphonse Halimi, who had the bantamweight title from 1957-59.

Jacquot, who came into the bout lightly regarded, is 24-9. Curry is 31-3.

Jacquot averted problems in the early rounds, then gradually wore down Curry. The challenger dominated the final six rounds.

Curry received more than $190,000, and Jacquot received about $62,500.