Aaron Pryor's lesser-known (to me) opposition

[boxing]

Most of my boxing knowledge encompasses the period from 2000 until now, so I'm not familiar with many fighters who competed in Pryor's era. The only two opponents he fought that I know of are Arguello and Cervantes, who were obviously very good.

Were fighters such as Gary Hinton, Nick Furlano, Sang-Hyun Kim, Akio Kameda, Miguel Montilla, Dujuan Johnson, Lennox Blackmoore, and Gaetan Hart ever considered top ten fighters in their day? How do they compare to more recent light-welterweights, such as Lucas Matthyse, Lamont Peterson, Timothy Bradley, Devon Alexander, Amir Khan, Marcos Maidana, Andriy Kotelnik, Zab Judah, Brandon Rios etc?

[Rover]

Several of those guys were mandatories (Kim, Kameda, Montilla). Others were ranked second (Blackmore and Johnson). Yeah, they were top ten jr. welters, but, for instance, Kameda's being a mandatory was pretty flimsy.
The top jr. welters of today are better than many of Pryor's opponents, but there're still Arguello and Cervantes.

[Rover]

I followed Aaron 'The Hawk' Pryor fairly well back in his early career.

His first '7' opponents, were nothing more than 'record-padders', understandably so.

Aaron's 'first' opponent who could actually fight back, was Canadian Lightweight - Johnny Summerhayes.

Not that the 25 year-old Johnny was a Top Flight Contender, but he did press Aaron for 3-Rounds,
before losing the last 5-Rounds, enroute to a one-sided 8-Round Decision loss.

Johnny at 25-8-3 {8 KO's}, had gone 1-4-1 in his previous 6-Bouts, but he was durable,
and could fight.

Pryor's resume before he won the title wasn't that strong. I got the impression the OP was referring to his title reign.

[giacomino]

I saw most of his defenses.
Hart and Furlano were gimmies. Furlano was a fringe lightweight contender, Hart not even that.
Kameda was an Asian champ who hadn't done much but had a nice record. He later got another undeserved title shot vs Terry Marsh. Would have been KOd by today's top 10.
I thought San-Hyun Kim was decent, but he would get beaten by today's top guys and he looked like a no-hope opponent against Pryor.
I saw Hinton several times and he was decent and a legit opponent who went on to with the IBF belt. He would have been a ranked guy today, IMO.
Johnson was undefeated and beat Montilla, who, if I remember correctly was, in The Ring's top 10 for several years.
Saw Montilla a few times and he had a solid punch and he gave Cervantes hell the first time they fought. He earned a shot at Pryor by KOing Domingo Ayala, who was a hotshit PR fighter at the time who had made a name for himself in New York.
I remember Blackmore being in the ratings for a while but don't remember seeing him fight before Pryor. However, in the runup, he did beat future lightweight beltholder Claude Noel and future junior lightweight beltholder Barry Michael, along with Adriano Marrero, a Dominican spoiler who went the distance with Cervantes and occasionally upset fighters above him in the rankings.

[giacomino]

Might be right. I remember he got a lot of publicity for his fatal fight with Denny leading up to the title shot. But he always seemed to me to be a guy who could make a fight of it but not beat the top 10-20-level fighters. Probably no more of a gimmie than Kameda or San-Hyun Kim at the time, although at least Kim was an ex-beltholder. I seem to remember Kim being a mandatory, but I might be wrong. Despite his ranking, Kim was lucky to have lasted into the 3rd round vs Pryor by the time that fight took place

[Dart340]

I thought Pryor's fight against Leonidas Asprilla was more competitive than his later title defenses. Dujuan Johnson was considered by far the best of his challengers as I remember and many thought it was a toss up beforehand. Most of the other defenses were usual TV fare meant to showcase Pryor against routine and non-threatening foes.

[Rover]

Mr. Rover,

I thought I would add a little bit about 'early' Aaron Pryor, since most know about the Championship Run.

An early good one, was with Aaron against Johnny Copeland in Cincinnati, Ohio on March 16, 1979.

Oh, as always, your info is much appreciated; I thought the OP wanted to know about title fights.

[Rover]

I saw most of his defenses.
Hart and Furlano were gimmies. Furlano was a fringe lightweight contender, Hart not even that.
Kameda was an Asian champ who hadn't done much but had a nice record. He later got another undeserved title shot vs Terry Marsh. Would have been KOd by today's top 10.
I thought San-Hyun Kim was decent, but he would get beaten by today's top guys and he looked like a no-hope opponent against Pryor.
I saw Hinton several times and he was decent and a legit opponent who went on to with the IBF belt. He would have been a ranked guy today, IMO.
Johnson was undefeated and beat Montilla, who, if I remember correctly was, in The Ring's top 10 for several years.
Saw Montilla a few times and he had a solid punch and he gave Cervantes hell the first time they fought. He earned a shot at Pryor by KOing Domingo Ayala, who was a hotshit PR fighter at the time who had made a name for himself in New York.
I remember Blackmore being in the ratings for a while but don't remember seeing him fight before Pryor. However, in the runup, he did beat future lightweight beltholder Claude Noel and future junior lightweight beltholder Barry Michael, along with Adriano Marrero, a Dominican spoiler who went the distance with Cervantes and occasionally upset fighters above him in the rankings.

Yeah, you're right about Blackmore and Montilla in terms of ratings.

[Rover]

Might be right. I remember he got a lot of publicity for his fatal fight with Denny leading up to the title shot. But he always seemed to me to be a guy who could make a fight of it but not beat the top 10-20-level fighters. Probably no more of a gimmie than Kameda or San-Hyun Kim at the time, although at least Kim was an ex-beltholder. I seem to remember Kim being a mandatory, but I might be wrong. Despite his ranking, Kim was lucky to have lasted into the 3rd round vs Pryor by the time that fight took place

Yeah, Kim was a mandatory.

[bennie]

Goins had stopped Pryor in the amateurs; Pryor, in an interview with Boxing Digest in December 2003, said that Goins hit him with a body shot that nearly killed him. He credited Dujuan Johnson as the hardest-hitting fighter he ever met in the pros.

[loaded_gloves]

That Dujuan Johnson fight was a war. Johnson would have been clubbing guys skulls in today's division. Pryor was a beast, he'd be making obscene money on HBO today.

[MEISINGER]

That Dujuan Johnson fight was a war. Johnson would have been clubbing guys skulls in today's division. Pryor was a beast, he'd be making obscene money on HBO today.

pryor would of made a mint in todays scene

i think he would of been a huge star today.not being
in the shadows of the fab 4

[Rover]

Goins had stopped Pryor in the amateurs; Pryor, in an interview with Boxing Digest in December 2003, said that Goins hit him with a body shot that nearly killed him. He credited Dujuan Johnson as the hardest-hitting fighter he ever met in the pros.

Wow, surprised he didn't say Arguello.

[giacomino]

Goins had stopped Pryor in the amateurs; Pryor, in an interview with Boxing Digest in December 2003, said that Goins hit him with a body shot that nearly killed him. He credited Dujuan Johnson as the hardest-hitting fighter he ever met in the pros.

Wow, surprised he didn't say Arguello.

Probably too full of Lewis' go-go juice to remember the first Arguello fight

[Chuck1052]

It is my understanding that many fighters and/or their management avoided Aaron Pryor, which may have been one reason that he fought some "soft" opponents. That may have also been one reason why Pryor fought as a junior welterweight instead of a lightweight. I certainly believe that Pryor was very eager to fight any lightweight or junior welterweight throughout his career.

For sure, Pryor didn't get the type of deal that Howard Davis did from CBS, which meant that he had a tough time making a living in boxing at the beginning. Davis beat Pryor on his way to getting on the U.S. Olympic boxing team in 1976, but Pryor would have been a terrible matchup for Davis in a bout scheduled for ten or more rounds.

- Chuck Johnston

Note- Revised

[The Great John L]

Davis beat Pryor on his way to getting on the U.S. Olympic boxing team in 1976, but Pryor would have been a terrible matchup for Davis in a bout scheduled for more than than three rounds.

Fixed.

[Ezzard]

Pryor was super exciting and he always put on a show.

His opposition wasn't good. And beyond a small Arguello and an old Cervantes...none of them would have made a dent in the best of today's crop.

I don't think Pryor would have had much chance with any of the Fab 4. And I don't think he'd have got much change out of the Currys, De la Hoyas or Trinidads either...

He'd be a great addition to the scene today but I would not bet on him coming out on top once the dust has settled.

[loaded_gloves]

He'd be a great addition to the scene today but I would not bet on him coming out on top once the dust has settled.

What, in the light-welters?

Who would beat him?

[BoxBuzz]

It is my understanding that many fighters and/or their management avoided Aaron Pryor, which may have been one reason that he fought some "soft" opponents. That may have also been one reason why Pryor fought as a junior welterweight instead of a lightweight. I certainly believe that Pryor was very eager to fight any lightweight or junior welterweight throughout his career.

For sure, Pryor didn't get the type of deal that Howard Davis did from CBS, which meant that he had a tough time making a living in boxing at the beginning. Davis beat Pryor on his way to getting on the U.S. Olympic boxing team in 1976, but Pryor would have been a terrible matchup for Davis in a bout scheduled for more than than ten rounds.

- Chuck Johnston

Then his management team did a masterful job (which I agree with) of making this appear to be so. But some of us who might consider ourselves locals (in my case split between St Louis and Louisville at the time..though he was based in Cincinnati) would say that he simply fought soft opposition purely because that was the intention. Aaron may have given lip service about wanting the best, but no way were his handlers going to take chances at that time. I suppose I don't know what really went on inside the mans head, maybe he was fearless but the record is pretty clear as to who they/he signed to fight and when. And as far as people avoiding him....well I'm sure there were some that fit that catagory...enough to make this a debate but I had the impression he was doing a lot more cherry picking than anyone seems to want to acknowledge.

[Rover]

It is my understanding that many fighters and/or their management avoided Aaron Pryor, which may have been one reason that he fought some "soft" opponents. That may have also been one reason why Pryor fought as a junior welterweight instead of a lightweight. I certainly believe that Pryor was very eager to fight any lightweight or junior welterweight throughout his career.

For sure, Pryor didn't get the type of deal that Howard Davis did from CBS, which meant that he had a tough time making a living in boxing at the beginning. Davis beat Pryor on his way to getting on the U.S. Olympic boxing team in 1976, but Pryor would have been a terrible matchup for Davis in a bout scheduled for more than than ten rounds.

- Chuck Johnston

Agreed about Pryor/Davis.

[Rover]

It was very difficult to get World-ranked opponents to come into Cincinnati to face Aaron Pryor in 1979.

Aaron was supposed to have a Television Bout on Saturday - June 23, 1979 against a World-ranked
Lightweight who pulled out.

They had to fill-in with shopworn New York Lightweight 31 year-old Jose Fernandez, who had lost
5-Straight.

Jose lasted about 1-Minute.......

Who was the lightweight?

[Rover]

I enjoy Pryor's fights, but the "Leonard ducked Pryor" myth is really annoying.

[Jaclem]

hey duce.....we were at the same aaron pryer's fights! i lived in cincinnati at that time and saw them all. and yes. summerhays was the first one to make him work for his win.

as for who ducked whom..from first hand knowledge i can tell you:

aaron would not fight howard davis...

aaron would not fight anyone taller than he was..

he did not like to fight anyone who had not lost his last fight before aaron would fight him.

these were not management decisions....they were aaron's

i don't know of any fighter who ever ducked him. saying this about leonard or "hands of stone" is nonsense.

[Rover]

hey duce.....we were at the same aaron pryer's fights! i lived in cincinnati at that time and saw them all. and yes. summerhays was the first one to make him work for his win.

as for who ducked whom..from first hand knowledge i can tell you:

aaron would not fight howard davis...

aaron would not fight anyone taller than he was..

he did not like to fight anyone who had not lost his last fight before aaron would fight him.

these were not management decisions....they were aaron's

i don't know of any fighter who ever ducked him. saying this about leonard or "hands of stone" is nonsense.

Arguello and Cervantes were taller than Pryor and hadn't lost their last fights.

[Rover]

Has anybody seen the Resto fight?