Aaron Pryor

[Rover]

What exactly did Pryor do at welter? The Leonard "dodged" Pryor claim has no support. Pryor didn't even move up to welterweight to get himself ranked for a shot at Leonard.
And when exactly would this fight have occurred? Pryor was out after he got shot after his defense v. Hart. He came back in June 81 to fight Blackmore. Leonard was getting ready to fight a fellow named Hearns. Leonard then fought Finch and retired. Pryor didn't become a big star until Arguello I--after Leonard's retirement.

[gilgamesh]

What exactly did Pryor do at welter? The Leonard "dodged" Pryor claim has no support. Pryor didn't even move up to welterweight to get himself ranked for a shot at Leonard.
And when exactly would this fight have occurred? Pryor was out after he got shot after his defense v. Hart. He came back in June 81 to fight Blackmore. Leonard was getting ready to fight a fellow named Hearns. Leonard then fought Finch and retired. Pryor didn't become a big star until Arguello I--after Leonard's retirement.

He called out Leonard I believe at a press conference once, but was never able to garner any interest from Leonard at the time. Understandably so with all the options he had.

I think Leonard would've beaten Pryor, but I think it would've been a good fight.

Aaron was definitely an exciting fighter to watch, and I'm sure I would've been a fan of his back in his day. Memorable personality and fighter to me, arguably one of the very best ever at Jr. Welterweight.

[Rover]

What exactly did Pryor do at welter? The Leonard "dodged" Pryor claim has no support. Pryor didn't even move up to welterweight to get himself ranked for a shot at Leonard.
And when exactly would this fight have occurred? Pryor was out after he got shot after his defense v. Hart. He came back in June 81 to fight Blackmore. Leonard was getting ready to fight a fellow named Hearns. Leonard then fought Finch and retired. Pryor didn't become a big star until Arguello I--after Leonard's retirement.

He called out Leonard I believe at a press conference once, but was never able to garner any interest from Leonard at the time. Understandably so with all the options he had.

I think Leonard would've beaten Pryor, but I think it would've been a good fight.

Aaron was definitely an exciting fighter to watch, and I'm sure I would've been a fan of his back in his day. Memorable personality and fighter to me, arguably one of the very best ever at Jr. Welterweight.

The fight people were interested in with SRL (aside from a Hearns rematch) was Hagler, who was even invited to Ray's (what turned out to be) retirement party.

[BoxBuzz]

One of the most overated of all time. Good shows with Arguello though.

Cervantes vs Pryor both prime? Sorry, but Pryor does not get that win. It's all about timing the aging champs as they are ready to be picked off. One of the Arguello fights notwithstanding. That ol Blue Bottle Magic can do the trick when needed! He was masterfully managed...now if you want to get into the story of brilliant management....there's one!

He had the fastest ramp down in the history of the sport....why give him so much credit? Just another story in the boxing annals. Flash in the pan, albeit a rather bright flash.

[gilgamesh]

What exactly did Pryor do at welter? The Leonard "dodged" Pryor claim has no support. Pryor didn't even move up to welterweight to get himself ranked for a shot at Leonard.
And when exactly would this fight have occurred? Pryor was out after he got shot after his defense v. Hart. He came back in June 81 to fight Blackmore. Leonard was getting ready to fight a fellow named Hearns. Leonard then fought Finch and retired. Pryor didn't become a big star until Arguello I--after Leonard's retirement.

He called out Leonard I believe at a press conference once, but was never able to garner any interest from Leonard at the time. Understandably so with all the options he had.

I think Leonard would've beaten Pryor, but I think it would've been a good fight.

Aaron was definitely an exciting fighter to watch, and I'm sure I would've been a fan of his back in his day. Memorable personality and fighter to me, arguably one of the very best ever at Jr. Welterweight.

The fight people were interested in with SRL (aside from a Hearns rematch) was Hagler, who was even invited to Ray's (what turned out to be) retirement party.

Either of which, Hearns or Hagler would've been significantly bigger money fights than a bout with Pryor. I'd have to have gone with Leonard W15 over Pryor, but I figure Pryor would've been able to raise his stock even in losing against Leonard by making such a fight of it.

We'll never know for sure though.

[Rover]

I think Leonard would've won comfortably; I don't think Pryor would've made such a fight of it.

[elmersalsa]

Sugar Ray would have given him so many shots to the belly that he would not be able to withstand. The great Aaron Pryor was a complete fighter, but, Sugar Ray was a class above him. Pryor would have not beaten Hearns nor Duran either.

[Nile4000]

Sugar Ray would have given him so many shots to the belly that he would not be able to withstand. The great Aaron Pryor was a complete fighter, but, Sugar Ray was a class above him. Pryor would have not beaten Hearns nor Duran either.

Nor would he have beaten Curry, McCrory, Starling, or a young Bobby Joe, who was very dangerous around that time.

[elmersalsa]

Sugar Ray would have given him so many shots to the belly that he would not be able to withstand. The great Aaron Pryor was a complete fighter, but, Sugar Ray was a class above him. Pryor would have not beaten Hearns nor Duran either.

Nor would he have beaten Curry, McCrory, Starling, or a young Bobby Joe, who was very dangerous around that time.

Pryor has a better chance with Milton McCrory, Pipino Cuevas and maybe the great Wilfred Benitez IMO.

[Rover]

Sugar Ray would have given him so many shots to the belly that he would not be able to withstand. The great Aaron Pryor was a complete fighter, but, Sugar Ray was a class above him. Pryor would have not beaten Hearns nor Duran either.

Nor would he have beaten Curry, McCrory, Starling, or a young Bobby Joe, who was very dangerous around that time.

I agree on Curry and Starling. Not sure about McCrory and Young. Of course, saying Pryor'd beat McCrory v. saying Pryor would KO Leonard, who ducked him is an entirely different (and much more reasonable) stance.

[Nile4000]

Sugar Ray would have given him so many shots to the belly that he would not be able to withstand. The great Aaron Pryor was a complete fighter, but, Sugar Ray was a class above him. Pryor would have not beaten Hearns nor Duran either.

Nor would he have beaten Curry, McCrory, Starling, or a young Bobby Joe, who was very dangerous around that time.

Pryor has a better chance with Milton McCrory, Pipino Cuevas and maybe the great Wilfred Benitez IMO.

If Cuevas caught Pryor with that hook, they could count to 100, and Pryor would still be out, LOL!

[Nile4000]

Sugar Ray would have given him so many shots to the belly that he would not be able to withstand. The great Aaron Pryor was a complete fighter, but, Sugar Ray was a class above him. Pryor would have not beaten Hearns nor Duran either.

Nor would he have beaten Curry, McCrory, Starling, or a young Bobby Joe, who was very dangerous around that time.

I agree on Curry and Starling. Not sure about McCrory and Young. Of course, saying Pryor'd beat McCrory v. saying Pryor would KO Leonard, who ducked him is an entirely different (and much more reasonable) stance.

I think Bobby Joe was a much better fighter when he was up-and-coming than when his faded version fought Aaron's faded version.I think Emanuel would have Milton hooked up with enough to derail the Pryor Train.

[Rover]

Agree on Cuevas.
As for McCrory and Young, I'd probably take Pryor. McCrory IMO would crack.

[Hairy Arse]

The fact that there are still so-called boxing fans who buy into that silly, outdated myth is both embarrassing and cringe-inducing. This entire claim is based off of a decade old episode from the Legendary Night series, in which it is strongly suggested that Leonard wanted nothing to do with him - without a shred of evidence to support such a claim, mind you (unless you think a brief clip of Ray Leonard shooing away Pryor at a press conference as if he were some insignificant, annoying toddler counts.)



A little research into the topic will reveal that Pryor turned down two career high purses to fight Leonard in 1980, just after Leonard beat Duran. Pryor rejected both, priced himself out and Leonard moved on to more important matters. Pryor wasn't an idiot; he knew what would have happened had he moved up in weight and fought Leonard and he was only going to take that risk if it was for the best money possible. And I suppose that's fine, but don't let any idiot attempt to convince you that he was desperate to fight Leonard because the evidence proves otherwise.

[elmersalsa]

The fact that there are still so-called boxing fans who buy into that silly, outdated myth is both embarrassing and cringe-inducing. This entire claim is based off of a decade old episode from the Legendary Night series, in which it is strongly suggested that Leonard wanted nothing to do with him - without a shred of evidence to support such a claim, mind you (unless you think a brief clip of Ray Leonard shooing away Pryor at a press conference as if he were some insignificant, annoying toddler counts.)



A little research into the topic will reveal that Pryor turned down two career high purses to fight Leonard in 1980, just after Leonard beat Duran. Pryor rejected both, priced himself out and Leonard moved on to more important matters. Pryor wasn't an idiot; he knew what would have happened had he moved up in weight and fought Leonard and he was only going to take that risk if it was for the best money possible. And I suppose that's fine, but don't let any idiot attempt to convince you that he was desperate to fight Leonard because the evidence proves otherwise.

Well, I have never heard of that. But to someone say that Leonard ducked "The Hawk" without evidence is foolish. Even if Leonard was "afraid" of meeting him in the ring, he would have won the fight taking the fear factor to his advantage. A guy that beat and fought greats like Benitez, Duran, Hearns and Hagler now would be afraid of Pryor? That does not make any sense to me.

[Rover]

The fact that there are still so-called boxing fans who buy into that silly, outdated myth is both embarrassing and cringe-inducing. This entire claim is based off of a decade old episode from the Legendary Night series, in which it is strongly suggested that Leonard wanted nothing to do with him - without a shred of evidence to support such a claim, mind you (unless you think a brief clip of Ray Leonard shooing away Pryor at a press conference as if he were some insignificant, annoying toddler counts.)



A little research into the topic will reveal that Pryor turned down two career high purses to fight Leonard in 1980, just after Leonard beat Duran. Pryor rejected both, priced himself out and Leonard moved on to more important matters. Pryor wasn't an idiot; he knew what would have happened had he moved up in weight and fought Leonard and he was only going to take that risk if it was for the best money possible. And I suppose that's fine, but don't let any idiot attempt to convince you that he was desperate to fight Leonard because the evidence proves otherwise.

It was ridiculous on that show how sparring sessions got brought up and how some guy said "I didn't see it" but then went on about how he heard SRL moved up in the ams to avoid Pryor.

[Hairy Arse]

Leonard's team offered him $500,000, which got turned down; they followed up on that offer with $750,000, which Pryor also rejected. He was holding out for two million, in spite of his previous best being $100,000, in spite of him not having done anything to earn a shot at Leonard, and in spite of him not possessing the sort of drawing power/name recognition that would warrant such a big purse. Pryor had the opportunity of a lifetime, would have made good money for losing to Leonard and may have even performed well enough to significantly increase his stock in performing on such a platform against such a name. As it is, he blew it - and did the same thing when he turned down three quarters of a million to fight Roberto Duran just a couple of months after rejecting the Leonard offer.



Leonard avoided nobody at his peak, absolutely nobody. He fought everybody worth mentioning at welterweight with the exception of Cuevas, who was supposed to fight Leonard before pulling out due to supposedly needing time to recover from a cut (guess which junta-led nation the WBA - the organisation that Cuevas represented as a champion - was based in?) and then you had the WBC and José Sulaimán (noted Don King lackey) constantly threatening to strip Leonard of it's title unless he agreed to sign to fight Duran around that same period.

[gilgamesh]

The fact that there are still so-called boxing fans who buy into that silly, outdated myth is both embarrassing and cringe-inducing. This entire claim is based off of a decade old episode from the Legendary Night series, in which it is strongly suggested that Leonard wanted nothing to do with him - without a shred of evidence to support such a claim, mind you (unless you think a brief clip of Ray Leonard shooing away Pryor at a press conference as if he were some insignificant, annoying toddler counts.)



A little research into the topic will reveal that Pryor turned down two career high purses to fight Leonard in 1980, just after Leonard beat Duran. Pryor rejected both, priced himself out and Leonard moved on to more important matters. Pryor wasn't an idiot; he knew what would have happened had he moved up in weight and fought Leonard and he was only going to take that risk if it was for the best money possible. And I suppose that's fine, but don't let any idiot attempt to convince you that he was desperate to fight Leonard because the evidence proves otherwise.

It was ridiculous on that show how sparring sessions got brought up and how some guy said "I didn't see it" but then went on about how he heard SRL moved up in the ams to avoid Pryor.

Yeah that was Butch Lewis I believe that said that.

[Rover]

Leonard's team offered him $500,000, which got turned down; they followed up on that offer with $750,000, which Pryor also rejected. He was holding out for two million, in spite of his previous best being $100,000, in spite of him not having done anything to earn a shot at Leonard, and in spite of him not possessing the sort of drawing power/name recognition that would warrant such a big purse. Pryor had the opportunity of a lifetime, would have made good money for losing to Leonard and may have even performed well enough to significantly increase his stock in performing on such a platform against such a name. As it is, he blew it - and did the same thing when he turned down three quarters of a million to fight Roberto Duran just a couple of months after rejecting the Leonard offer.



Leonard avoided nobody at his peak, absolutely nobody. He fought everybody worth mentioning at welterweight with the exception of Cuevas, who was supposed to fight Leonard before pulling out due to supposedly needing time to recover from a cut (guess which junta-led nation the WBA - the organisation that Cuevas represented as a champion - was based in?) and then you had the WBC and José Sulaimán (noted Don King lackey) constantly threatening to strip Leonard of it's title unless he agreed to sign to fight Duran around that same period.

All true. The OP is ill-informed.

[Rover]

The fact that there are still so-called boxing fans who buy into that silly, outdated myth is both embarrassing and cringe-inducing. This entire claim is based off of a decade old episode from the Legendary Night series, in which it is strongly suggested that Leonard wanted nothing to do with him - without a shred of evidence to support such a claim, mind you (unless you think a brief clip of Ray Leonard shooing away Pryor at a press conference as if he were some insignificant, annoying toddler counts.)



A little research into the topic will reveal that Pryor turned down two career high purses to fight Leonard in 1980, just after Leonard beat Duran. Pryor rejected both, priced himself out and Leonard moved on to more important matters. Pryor wasn't an idiot; he knew what would have happened had he moved up in weight and fought Leonard and he was only going to take that risk if it was for the best money possible. And I suppose that's fine, but don't let any idiot attempt to convince you that he was desperate to fight Leonard because the evidence proves otherwise.

It was ridiculous on that show how sparring sessions got brought up and how some guy said "I didn't see it" but then went on about how he heard SRL moved up in the ams to avoid Pryor.

Yeah that was Butch Lewis I believe that said that.

You're right; jogged my memory.

[dberry]

Prior proved himself against Argullo, I doubt he should have gone up a division. BoxBuzz, that was his devision. And he wasn't over rated. He was an impressive fighter with a great reacord, particularly for the day and was exciting to watch. i don't know that Sugar Ray avoided him, but there was a lot of great fights and money to be made of the day.