Mahone Leads With Mouth Before Curry Bout

By DAVE McKIBBEN

Nov. 29, 1997 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

ANAHEIM — A relaxed and confident Ed Mahone of Los Angeles will take his 14-0-1 record into Monday night’s 10-round heavyweight fight at the Pond against Detroit’s Eric Curry. Mahone, 25, has won 14 consecutive fights by knockout and is ready to be taken seriously by the rest of the heavyweight division.

He started his assault by verbally taking on champion Evander Holyfield.

“Holyfield will go down within six rounds,” Mahone said. “His style is made for me. But I know the fight will never happen. Evander has already said he doesn’t want to fight any young fighters.”

Then Mahone began throwing flurries at everyone else rated above him.

“Why not? They’re in my field,” he said. “I’ll call them all out. I’m a tough guy here today. I don’t feel there’s anybody at the top who’s a threat to Ed Mahone.

“I’m quite happy with the pace I’ve been going at. Sometimes you can get a little cocky and start becoming too big for your britches. One fight can set you back. But I’m not looking for that to happen.”

Mahone, who is promoted by Forum Boxing, is coming off his most impressive victory--an eight-round knockout of Everett “Big Foot” Martin, who has gone the distance with Larry Holmes, George Foreman and Michael Moorer.

Tonight’s opponent, Curry (22-3, 13 knockouts), is a last-minute replacement for Ernesto Moreno, who has tonsillitis and withdrew a week ago. Curry has tested positive twice for drugs and has been suspended for more than a year. He has not fought in nearly two years.

In a 12-round bout, Chino Garcia (15-0, four knockouts) of Los Angeles will fight for the vacant North American Boxing Organization flyweight title against Danny Nunez (26-3, 19 knockouts) of the Dominican Republic. Nunez has been inactive for three years. Garcia, 21, won his last fight over Miguel Granados at the Forum in September. Garcia was winning the fight when Granados was disqualified for repeated low blows.

The undercard, which includes a women’s bout, begins at 7:15. Tickets, from $15-$150, are available at the Pond.