WHO YOU GOT? THE HAWK VS. PACMAN
Posted: 01 Jun 2014, 18:04
While listlessly watching the vapid girls' softball tournament the other night on ESPN (they preempted FNF for this schlock???), I began mulling some dream fights (perhaps because I was dozing) and eventually locked in on a potential bombs away 140 lb. matchup---Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor vs. Manny Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, of course, has a limited record at 140. Just one bout. But it was undoubtedly the signature win of his career, a second round destruction of Ricky Hatton.
Pryor, on the other hand, reigned for nearly 5 years and had 11 title defenses, including 2 bouts with the legendary Arguello.
On the surface it would appear that the Hawks lengthy track record at junior welter entitles him to the favorite's role over the Filipino.
But how good would Pacquiao have been if he stayed at 140 instead of chasing after the welterweight title, a division he dominated for several years , albeit without the power he displayed at the lighter weights.
And how good was Pryor? He won the title from another legend, Antonio Cervantes, but the Colombian was nearly 36 and near the end of the road with more than 100 fights under his belt. As it was, he outboxed Pryor for several rounds, until the Hawk turned up the heat in the 4th and Kid Pambele crumbled.
And were his wins over Arguello proof he was an extraordinary fighter, or was Arguello merely a past his prime smaller opponent, who didn't belong in the ring with the best 140 pounders?
Would a bout between Pacman and the Hawk been a nonstop, brutal affair? Or would we be surprised and instead witness primarily a chess match, punctuated by occasional bomb bursts between 2 kayo artists who could also box?
Your answers have to be more interesting than watching the ladies batter up.
Pacquiao, of course, has a limited record at 140. Just one bout. But it was undoubtedly the signature win of his career, a second round destruction of Ricky Hatton.
Pryor, on the other hand, reigned for nearly 5 years and had 11 title defenses, including 2 bouts with the legendary Arguello.
On the surface it would appear that the Hawks lengthy track record at junior welter entitles him to the favorite's role over the Filipino.
But how good would Pacquiao have been if he stayed at 140 instead of chasing after the welterweight title, a division he dominated for several years , albeit without the power he displayed at the lighter weights.
And how good was Pryor? He won the title from another legend, Antonio Cervantes, but the Colombian was nearly 36 and near the end of the road with more than 100 fights under his belt. As it was, he outboxed Pryor for several rounds, until the Hawk turned up the heat in the 4th and Kid Pambele crumbled.
And were his wins over Arguello proof he was an extraordinary fighter, or was Arguello merely a past his prime smaller opponent, who didn't belong in the ring with the best 140 pounders?
Would a bout between Pacman and the Hawk been a nonstop, brutal affair? Or would we be surprised and instead witness primarily a chess match, punctuated by occasional bomb bursts between 2 kayo artists who could also box?
Your answers have to be more interesting than watching the ladies batter up.