Leonard and Pryor

[Miburo]

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.

Again, this is about the amateur, not professional ranks.

[frankenfrank]

Again, this is about the amateur, not professional ranks.

I think it is about the professional

[NChristo]

I think it is about the professional

Nah it was about the AMs, made a mistake of saying pro ring :/.

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.

Already been solved, no one knows if he did move up just to avoid Pryor but he did move up while they was in the same weight.

[r.burgundy]

i think pryor was somebody he shouldve fought buyt given whom he did fight,i cant call that a ducking.i think sugar wouldve outpointed pryor being that he wasnt hard to find

[Dynamite76]

Not sure, don't think Leonard moved up to avoid Pryor.Plus, maybe they didn't want to fight because they were very tight in the amateurs.

[tyger]

Leonard was way too big for Pryor and Pryor knew it. Pryor actually challenged Cervantes because he could secure any fights at lightweight.

Additionly by the time Pryor beat Arguello, Leonard was retired with a retna injury.

[NChristo]

Leonard was way too big for Pryor and Pryor knew it. Pryor actually challenged Cervantes because he could secure any fights at lightweight.

Additionly by the time Pryor beat Arguello, Leonard was retired with a retna injury.

We are talking about in the AMs where Pryor and Leonard were in the same weightclass and Leonard moved up, and Pryor beat Hearns, if Hearns wasn't too big for Pryor, Leonard sure as hell wasn't.

[JAB5239]

]i think pryor was somebody he shouldve fought buyt given whom he did fight,i cant call that a ducking.[/B]i think sugar wouldve outpointed pryor being that he wasnt hard to find

It's a bit funny you don't give Frazier the same concession with Lyle considering who he fought. Actually it's not funny at all, it's hypocritical.

[r.burgundy]

It's a bit funny you don't give Frazier the same concession with Lyle considering who he fought. Actually it's not funny at all, it's hypocritical.

frazier fought jimmy ellis lmao.sorry.no pass for that