Leonard and Pryor

[NChristo]

Did Ray Leonard really move up in weight to avoid fighting Aaron Pryor ?, what's everyone's thoughts on this and how do you think the fight would have gone if they did meet in the ring at that time.

[1SILVA]

Did Ray Leonard really move up in weight to avoid fighting Aaron Pryor ?, what's everyone's thoughts on this and how do you think the fight would have gone if they did meet in the pro ring at that time.

Leonard and Pryor both began their careers at separate weight classes. Leonard began at 140 and Pryor at 135. Leonard, after 5 fights moved up to 147, while Pryor remained at 135. When Leonard won the 147 pound title from Benitez in 1979, Pryor was still at 135. Pryor moved up to 140 in 1980, winning the title from Cervantes. Leonard never avoided Pryor. If they would have fought, leonard would have been too strong for Pryor. Pryor's defense was too reckless and Leonard would have landed with ease all night long. Look at Pryor's fights with guys much taller than him. None of them had the hand speed SRL had.

[NChristo]

Leonard and Pryor both began their careers at separate weight classes. Leonard began at 140 and Pryor at 135. Leonard, after 5 fights moved up to 147, while Pryor remained at 135. When Leonard won the 147 pound title from Benitez in 1979, Pryor was still at 135. Pryor moved up to 140 in 1980, winning the title from Cervantes. Leonard never avoided Pryor. If they would have fought, leonard would have been too strong for Pryor. Pryor's defense was too reckless and Leonard would have landed with ease all night long. Look at Pryor's fights with guys much taller than him. None of them had the hand speed SRL had.

Just watched Legendary Nights : Pryor - Arguello, and it talks about Pryor calling out Leonard plenty of times and someone mentions on how Leonard apparently moved up in weightclass to avoid fighting him. When Pryor calls Leonard out in public at a conference stating that he beat the top contender at JWW and wants to fight Leonard, Leonard just kind of ignored him and politely told him to get off stage.
As for Pryor loosing too people much taller then him, didn't he beat Hearns silly in the AMs ? (Not saying he didn't get beat by people taller then him, just fount it interesting), that was mention on LN aswell and how Pryor would give Leonard beatings in sparring also.

[1SILVA]

Just watched Legendary Nights : Pryor - Arguello, and it talks about Pryor calling out Leonard plenty of times and someone mentions on how Leonard apparently moved up in weightclass to avoid fighting him. When Pryor calls Leonard out in public at a conference stating that he beat the top contender at JWW and wants to fight Leonard, Leonard just kind of ignored him and politely told him to get off stage.
As for Pryor loosing too people much taller then him, didn't he beat Hearns silly in the AMs ? (Not saying he didn't get beat by people taller then him, just fount it interesting), that was mention on LN aswell and how Pryor would give Leonard beatings in sparring also.

He beat all the tall fighters he faced in the pros, but they all landed on him consistently. Look at his fights with Kameda, Montilla, Hinton, Arguello and Asprilla. He was knocked down in three of those fights and staggered in each of them. When Leonard retired in 1981, he was the 147 pound champion, and Pryor was still at 140. Leonard never moved up to avoid Pryor. he fought Hearns, Duran and Benitez from 1979-1981. Pryor wanted to fight Leonard, but Leonard made much more money fighting Hearns and Duran. When he first retired in 81, had he not retired, he would have fought Hagler because that where the money was.

[NChristo]

He beat all the tall fighters he faced in the pros, but they all landed on him consistently. Look at his fights with Kameda, Montilla, Hinton, Arguello and Asprilla. He was knocked down in three of those fights and staggered in each of them. When Leonard retired in 1981, he was the 147 pound champion, and Pryor was still at 140. Leonard never moved up to avoid Pryor. he fought Hearns, Duran and Benitez from 1979-1981. Pryor wanted to fight Leonard, but Leonard made much more money fighting Hearns and Duran. When he first retired in 81, had he not retired, he would have fought Hagler because that where the money was.

K thanks for info, didn't know too much on what happened and just fount it interesting that Leonard would avoid Pryor, turns out he didn't and it was just one of Pryor's corner men making him out to be greater then he was.

Still Pryor seemed more then willing to fight Leonard, wish the fight would of happened, I agree though Leonard would beat Pryor but would of been an entertaining fight to say the least.

[1SILVA]

K thanks for info, didn't know too much on what happened and just fount it interesting that Leonard would avoid Pryor, turns out he didn't and it was just one of Pryor's corner men making him out to be greater then he was.

Still Pryor seemed more then willing to fight Leonard, wish the fight would of happened, I agree though Leonard would beat Pryor but would of been an entertaining fight to say the least.

I too would have loved to have seen it. Had Leonard not received the eye injury, the fight might have happened. But Pryor was going to be behind Hearns and Hagler in the pecking order had Leonard not retired. Pryor got screwed out of a big payday with Boom Boom Mancini. Had Mancini not lost to Bramble, Pryor was going to be his next opponent.

[Miburo]

The move being referenced occurred during the amateurs, not pros (supposedly to avoid Pryor in the Olympic trials), and I have no idea if it's true or not.

[Thread Stealer]

Butch Lewis said he heard Leonard moved up in the amateurs to avoid Pryor. Who knows if it's true. Leonard was fighting at 132, but moved up from 132 to Light Welter in 1973-1974 (and later won Gold in the 76' Olympics in this division). Pryor he was the National AAU champ at 132 in 1972, and fought there when he beat Hearns four years later in the National Golden Gloves.

As for Legendary Nights, well despite being a well-made series, it also spawned more myths than Ancient Greece. The fight between Leonard and Pryor was not made due to financial squabbles. Pryor was offered $500,000, he declined because he wanted more. For comparisons, Benitez got $1.2 million facing Leonard, Duran got $1.5 in the first Leonard fight, Kalule got $250,000, and Pryor's career high had been $50,000 against Cervantes.

I don't like Pryor's chances above 140, especially against guys like Leonard and Hearns. I actually give him a better chance of beating Duran @ 150 (that fight fell apart as well due to Pryor's managerial problems) than against Leonard & Hearns at 147. Leonard and Hearns had grown into solid WWs and Pryor was better suited at 140 (or even 135). Moreover, Hearns had turned into arguably the hardest hitting WW ever after not being a puncher as an amateur.

Here is Pryor, after beating Lennox Blackmoore, talking about why he turned down the Leonard fight.

[1SILVA]

Butch Lewis said he heard Leonard moved up in the amateurs to avoid Pryor. Who knows if it's true. Leonard was fighting at 132, but moved up from 132 to Light Welter in 1973-1974 (and later won Gold in the 76' Olympics in this division). Pryor he was the National AAU champ at 132 in 1972, and fought there when he beat Hearns four years later in the National Golden Gloves.

As for Legendary Nights, well despite being a well-made series, it also spawned more myths than Ancient Greece. The fight between Leonard and Pryor was not made due to financial squabbles. Pryor was offered $500,000, he declined because he wanted more. For comparisons, Benitez got $1.2 million facing Leonard, Duran got $1.5 in the first Leonard fight, Kalule got $250,000, and Pryor's career high had been $50,000 against Cervantes.

I don't like Pryor's chances above 140, especially against guys like Leonard and Hearns. I actually give him a better chance of beating Duran @ 150 (that fight fell apart as well due to Pryor's managerial problems) than against Leonard & Hearns at 147. Leonard and Hearns had grown into solid WWs and Pryor was better suited at 140 (or even 135). Moreover, Hearns had turned into arguably the hardest hitting WW ever after not being a puncher as an amateur.

Here is Pryor, after beating Lennox Blackmoore, talking about why he turned down the Leonard fight.

Excellent post and analysis. Hearns would have put Pryor into dream street. I think Pryor beats Duran.

[frankenfrank]

Did Ray Leonard really move up in weight to avoid fighting Aaron Pryor ?, what's everyone's thoughts on this and how do you think the fight would have gone if they did meet in the pro ring at that time.

Too obvious that Leonard moved up because he wanted more belts at more weights to enhance his legacy and hype (market value) , he fought much more dangerous fighters than Pryor throughout his career . Even Terry Norris and as was proven Hector Camacho were more dangerous than Pryor.
Sorry , no way Leonard ducked Pryor.