Aaron Pryor vs Sugar Ray Leonard

[chiricahua]

At Welterweight who wins?

[allworld80]

Ray wins at any weight. Too fast, too slick.

[chiricahua]

But Pryor said that Leonard ducked him.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

But Pryor said that Leonard ducked him.

- Leonard had bigger fish to fry and then the early retirement party.

Always picked Pryor in this dustup though. Leonard never showed he could handle a quick swarming slugger of the class of near prime Duran or prime Pryor. Duran never got going the second fight because of the two full steak dinners he wolfed down hours before the fight leaving him with large swelling bowels, but he did the business in spades the first fight.

[yiddle]

pryor wins leonard cant get space to box

[Collins2000]

But Pryor said that Leonard ducked him.

- Leonard had bigger fish to fry and then the early retirement party.

Always picked Pryor in this dustup though. Leonard never showed he could handle a quick swarming slugger of the class of near prime Duran or prime Pryor. Duran never got going the second fight because of the two full steak dinners he wolfed down hours before the fight leaving him with large swelling bowels, but he did the business in spades the first fight.

And you'll be in the minority as usual.

Leonard easily.

[Goodnight, Irene]

I think Pryor scores the upset.

[pete]

Only question for me is how much could Pryor take.

[Seamus]

Leonard by a wide decision, with a couple knockdowns along the way. Possibly even a late stoppage.

If Arguello gave Pryor a hard fight, this time it would be a guy who hits harder, faster, has a better chin and better defense.

Leonard never ducked Pryor, and Pryor did fight at 147 till he was a shot fighter. There were other top welters he could have lined up, but obviously didn't want to move up.

[alexpaterson]

SRL far too fast and slick UD wide outboxing Pryor

[BoxBuzz]

Leonard by a wide decision, with a couple knockdowns along the way. Possibly even a late stoppage.

If Arguello gave Pryor a hard fight, this time it would be a guy who hits harder, faster, has a better chin and better defense.

Leonard never ducked Pryor, and Pryor did fight at 147 till he was a shot fighter. There were other top welters he could have lined up, but obviously didn't want to move up.

This reasonable and sensible spouting of logic must cease.

[The 1-2 Kid]

Truly, Pryor was the sport's most avoided fighter. During in an era, were Duran, Bentiez, Hearns, Palomino, Cuevas, and later Camacho, Rosario, and Mancini. He left the ring without us as fans seeing the best of him.

But to think he could have beaten Mr. Boxing of the 80s is a bit much. Physically he could have competed, but with the big fight atmosphere and build-up, mentally I think he would have came up short, just as Hearns and Hagler did.

[boxing_fanatic_87]

I would've liked for this fight to happen just because Pryor was a great fighter who deserved the biggest money fight possible for him, but I don't think he would've beaten Leonard. Pryor was a very tough, aggressive fighter that would've definitely given Leonard an interesting challenge. In the end though Leonard has too much for Pryor to overcome and wins a clear cut Unanimous Decision.

[Maya]

Pryor wasn't just a one dimensional swarmer. He could box pretty well if he needed to switch it up.

He was left to be hit at times and I think if he did fight the welterweights of the time, that the damage would've taken its toll eventually.

I believe he did wanted to fight Mancini pretty badly.

[Ambling Alp]

If Pryor really wanted to fight the top welterweights, he could have moved up in weight and done so. If he had beaten a couple of welterweights and established himself as the #1 contender, he would have got a title shot.

He was a great fighter and proved it against Arguello. However, it's a bit much to say that the top welterweights were ducking him.

[pete]

I believe he did wanted to fight Mancini pretty badly.

I think this is very true.I have Pryor's fight against Cervantes and in the pre-fight Tim Ryan says Pryor was rated #1 by both the WBA and WBC at 135 but couldn't get a shot,hence his move to 140.
I always thought this was hyperbole by Pryor's camp until Ryan confirmed it.
Pryor was a very good,maybe even great fighter,but the truth is he beat 2 greats close to the end of their careers.They were still formidable,especially Arguello,but they were also still old.
Getting dropped by Ganigan and Ramirez(and a gift decision,according to some)clearly shows AA on the slowdown.I don't know if he was ever dropped before in his career.
My point is Pryor never proved anything against a prime welter but is often given the benefit of doubt by more than a few,kind of like Tony Ayala Jr.
They could've done this or beaten that one but they didn't.Certainly Ayala never did.Pryor did do some mighty impressive things at 140.

[Ezzard]

Leonard by a wide decision, with a couple knockdowns along the way. Possibly even a late stoppage.

If Arguello gave Pryor a hard fight, this time it would be a guy who hits harder, faster, has a better chin and better defense.

Leonard never ducked Pryor, and Pryor did fight at 147 till he was a shot fighter. There were other top welters he could have lined up, but obviously didn't want to move up.

I agree. Pryor wanted the fight because of the money but he didn't campaign at the weight.

pryor was often dropped in fights and I belive Leonard would score the KDs and a lo-sided decision.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

Pryor wanted the fight because of the money but he didn't campaign at the weight.

- Leonard didn't "campaign" for a shot at Kalule, Hagler, and LaLonde. He wanted the fights because of money and legacy and merely had to wave his hand, and poof, belts were his.

Shame, shame, shame on Aaron not giving up the only belt anyone would ever give him a crack at, that naughty boy. Who did he think he was anyway?

[BoxBuzz]

Pryor wanted the fight because of the money but he didn't campaign at the weight.

- Leonard didn't "campaign" for a shot at Kalule, Hagler, and LaLonde. He wanted the fights because of money and legacy and merely had to wave his hand, and poof, belts were his.

Shame, shame, shame on Aaron not giving up the only belt anyone would ever give him a crack at, that naughty boy. Who did he think he was anyway?

Funny you should mention "crack" ? Not sure it was crack, might have been coke, but your right there were times when Aaron didn't know who he was. Anyway he wasn't as avoided as you allude to, and did his share of avoidance himself. A very well informed contributor to boxrec once quipped "The only fight that would have ever happened between Pryor and Duran would have been the fight Aaron would have had with the three guys it would have taken to get him into the ring with Duran.

But feel free to spin away....and never let facts get in the way of a good myth.

[BroughtonRulesRefuge]

The only fight that would have ever happened between Pryor and Duran would have been the fight Aaron would have had with the three guys it would have taken to get him into the ring with Duran.

But feel free to spin away....and never let facts get in the way of a good myth.

- Silly boy, Duran had been campaigning at welt for over 2 yrs and was too busy celebrating his big win over Leonard by blowing up to 190 lbs before Pryor ever moved up to face Cervantes.

No need to make up porkies. Duran was gone forever from the welts after 1980. Now you're making out that Pryor was not supposed to jump just one division early in his career, but 3 and 4 divisions?

Duran wanted a crack at Benitez and Cervantes back when they held the 140 belts, but they wouldn't fight him, so he ended up in welt to chase Benitez who got first crack at Palomino. After a couple of years, new champ Leonard was forced to fight Duran as a mandatory or be stripped.

Pryor had barely a year's experience as a local Ohio regional fighter when Duran vacated his lightweight title and moved up, but your version a sweet porkie to fib at cocktail parties to fluff up a pretty skirt......... 8)

[pringle]

But Pryor said that Leonard ducked him.

- Leonard had bigger fish to fry and then the early retirement party.

Always picked Pryor in this dustup though. Leonard never showed he could handle a quick swarming slugger of the class of near prime Duran or prime Pryor. Duran never got going the second fight because of the two full steak dinners he wolfed down hours before the fight leaving him with large swelling bowels, but he did the business in spades the first fight.

Hoooooooo man!

[BoxBuzz]

The only fight that would have ever happened between Pryor and Duran would have been the fight Aaron would have had with the three guys it would have taken to get him into the ring with Duran.

But feel free to spin away....and never let facts get in the way of a good myth.

- Silly boy, Duran had been campaigning at welt for over 2 yrs and was too busy celebrating his big win over Leonard by blowing up to 190 lbs before Pryor ever moved up to face Cervantes.

No need to make up porkies. Duran was gone forever from the welts after 1980. Now you're making out that Pryor was not supposed to jump just one division early in his career, but 3 and 4 divisions?

Duran wanted a crack at Benitez and Cervantes back when they held the 140 belts, but they wouldn't fight him, so he ended up in welt to chase Benitez who got first crack at Palomino. After a couple of years, new champ Leonard was forced to fight Duran as a mandatory or be stripped.

Pryor had barely a year's experience as a local Ohio regional fighter when Duran vacated his lightweight title and moved up, but your version a sweet porkie to fib at cocktail parties to fluff up a pretty skirt......... 8)

The quip was in reference to a hypothetical prime vs prime, and not a real time reference.

[mali]

Once Ray had picked the size of ring,type of gloves,length of fight,judges and any other conceivable advantage he could think of, he probably would have won on points.

[elmersalsa]

If Pryor really wanted to fight the top welterweights, he could have moved up in weight and done so. If he had beaten a couple of welterweights and established himself as the #1 contender, he would have got a title shot.

He was a great fighter and proved it against Arguello. However, it's a bit much to say that the top welterweights were ducking him.

How do you see the great Aaron Pryor vs these great welterweights of the time Alp?
1. vs Sugar Ray Leonard
2. vs Roberto Duran
3. vs Wilfred Benitez
4. vs Thomas Hearns
5. vs Pipino Cuevas

From 1983 to 84:
1. vs Donald Curry
2. vs Milton McCrory

[Ambling Alp]

He probably would have lost to Leonard,Duran, Hearns, and Benitez.
He probably would have beat McCrory fairly easily.

Cuevas and Curry would have been interesting fights but Pryor probably would have won.