Mythical Match Up #1: Ray Leonard vs. Aaron Pryor (Spring, 1982)

[JAB5239]

- - Pryor was a lightweight that whooped Tommy in the amas. His pro career was going nowhere when he moved up to 140 for his first title shot vs legendary Cervantes whom he KOed, purt fair for a kid.

No doubt Ray ducked Pryor, but later when Pryor was being disputed by two managers, Ray pulled a fast one to offer him a fight knowing Pryor could not legally fight until the dispute was settled.

Wrong. Leonard offered Pryor a fight in late 1980 that Aaron did not except. Pryor fought twice in '81. Ray fought only a few months before Pryor in '81. The second time when Pryor was offered 750k in 1982 Ray suffered a detached retina before the fight could happen. The only ducked was clearly from Pryor......unless you are suggesting suffering a detached retina is ducking. Doesn't really matter, Ray fought and beat the better fighters which is why he is more highly regarded in history. There was also no su****ion of him cheating as there was with Pryor.

[JAB5239]

[QUOTE=Anomalocaris;n32416137]I do find all the pre-fight antics and hype so tiring.

Especially at the weigh in.

It's a very rare thing today that both fighters behave with respect and class before a fight.

Watch Muay Thai, or One Championship. It's not boxing, but it can be more brutal. And almost all the time the participants are very respectful. Even if there is some drama before the fight, they show mad respect afterwards. I love boxing, but it is so meaningless petty. Most other martial arts are not.

[JAB5239]

As for the original question......Leonard wins a wide decision if not outright stops Aaron. To big, to fast and to craft. Pryor was great, but there are different levels of greatness.

[Anomalocaris]

As for the original question......Leonard wins a wide decision if not outright stops Aaron. To big, to fast and to craft. Pryor was great, but there are different levels of greatness.

There are great fighters and there are all-time great fighters

Pryor was the first - Duran, Leonard and Hearns the latter.

[QueensburyRules]

Wrong. Leonard offered Pryor a fight in late 1980 that Aaron did not except. Pryor fought twice in '81. Ray fought only a few months before Pryor in '81. The second time when Pryor was offered 750k in 1982 Ray suffered a detached retina before the fight could happen. The only ducked was clearly from Pryor......unless you are suggesting suffering a detached retina is ducking. Doesn't really matter, Ray fought and beat the better fighters which is why he is more highly regarded in history. There was also no su****ion of him cheating as there was with Pryor.

- - Look, we know U don't do maths and can't follow a timeline and need help dressing...

[JAB5239]

- - Look, we know U don't do maths and can't follow a timeline and need help dressing...

Look, we know you cant dispute the facts or walk a straight line, spread your arms out and touch your finger to you nose or recite the alphabet backwards....just sayin!

[nivance]

In a hypothetical match between Sugar Ray Leonard and Aaron Pryor around 1982, Leonard's speed and precision would likely have countered Pryor's aggressive style. Leonard's tactical approach and superior technique would give him the edge, potentially leading to a decision victory.

[QueensburyRules]

I have personal bias I can't get pass.

Pryor is a good example of my problem.

I can not abide a fighter who disrespects his opponent with arrogance. They are all warriors and should always show respect to their opponents.

Pryor was arrogant and mocking of his opponents

These fighters are on "my list" because I just can not respect them regardless of their talent . . . Pernell Whitaker another.

A friend of mine was a small investor in Teofimo Lopez. And while I always routed for Lopez, for my friend's sake, his behavior is another fighter that fills me with disgust.

I saw one of Pryor's last fights (Young) live and as wrong as I felt watching it I enjoyed watching him get stopped.

I just can't understand 'the why' of a disrespectful fighter.

I can understand the need for trash talk to build a gate. But once the fight starts that should be done.

Some fighters mock their opponents during and after the fight. That I will not respect.

SRL would have stopped Pryor just as he did Kalule.

P.S. Billy Joe Sanders is also on my list. I am glad he is gone.

- - Now Pep, Pryor is always gonna be a wildcard. The Ref stopped Kalule, not Ray. Kalule was lefty with quick boxer/puncher hands. The scoring was going to be too close for Ray's handlers, so pull the plug and nobody cares what happens to an African Fighter who few ever heard of before the fight was announced.

I've always taken Pryor in this match up in part because he has a better title record than Ray, 10-0 with lots of flashy unpredictable KOs alloyed with a unpredictable style. Outboxed Hearns in the Amas and pitched a masterclass vs Arguello.

[Engine512]

Unless Ray Leonard was having a serious off night like he did in the first go against Duran in Montreal, I think Ray Leonard stops him in the later rounds somewhere between 11 & 15. If Ray is having a bad night, and Pryor is using the black bottle " The one that is mixed ", then maybe Pryor pulls it off, but it is like a one in a million shot in the dark.