Roberto Duran vs. Aaron Pryor at 140: How would it go?

[Bushidō]

thoughts???????????????????????????????????

[Nick Fury]

I think Duran wins in a war. Pryor was fantastic, but he would leave himself open for counters when he would swarm his opponents. Might be a TKO in the 11th, but pryor had a granite chin sooooo Ud Duran!

[GJC]

With hindsight it is a suprise that Duran never challenged for a version of the title at this weight as I would have thought it would be a nice weight for him late 70's early 80's. Not withstanding his ill discipline between fights of course.
Re the question I would strongly favour a prime Duran against a prime Pryor.

[mickey malone]

It's very difficult to find a better lightweight than Duran.. I think the posters who have already commented have the outcome about right..

[Bushidō]

would have definitely been a WAR

[boxingbuff]

Yes it would have been a WAR and a great fight.

I believe Duran's defense and ability to slip punches would be the difference in the fight.

I believe both fighters would be confident and come ready to destroy the other.But Duran would stand up to Pryor's wirlwind opening round and his flurries during the fight,talking to Pryor asking him is that all you have? His agression would be more bridled,slipping punches and countering Pryor.I see Duran slowly wearing him down and stopping him in the late rounds.

I believe it would be a close hard fought fight,that would probably be an all-time great fight!

[bojangles1987]

Would be one of the greatest fights ever. I'd go Duran by very close decision or late stoppage. Pryor didn't have the power to stop Duran in his tracks while Duran would have the power to make Pryor stop and think. That would be the difference.

[Thread Stealer]

Duran.

Exciting fight, but Duran was simply the superior, more polished fighter.

[hookoutofhell]

duran imo is the better all round fighter and i see him stopping pryor late on or edging out a close decision.

i think duran would do alot of body work that would pay dividends later on in the fight, i think he would slow pryor down and then take control from round 9 onwards. i think durans ability to slip and roll with punches would also mean that he is able to prevent pryor from catching him flush

p.s. would be a great fight though

[DeepSleep]

I don't think either fighter has enough power to break through the granite chins that both fighters have. Duran is a very underrated defensive fighter and he would exploit Pryor's defense throughout a decisive 12 round war.