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

[billeau2]

Hard to bet against either of these guys at their best. Pryor could take a lot coming in to deliver his punishments. Conventional opinions would favor Leonard for sure. I think if I had to bet I would take Leonard. But Queen B makes some good points about Pryor!

[Anomalocaris]

Ray by brutal KO, and it's not even close - even wirh a 'magic' bottle

[QueensburyRules]

Ray by brutal KO, and it's not even close - even wirh a 'magic' bottle

- - Magic bottle made up by boxing media for easily led duffers.

[Willie Pep 229]

- - Magic bottle made up by boxing media for easily led duffers.

Nah! I saw, and more importantly heard, the fight.

Skullduggrey was afoot.

If you can see that Wald was drugged I can surely see the Pryor was juiced.

[Marchegiano]

I learned a while back, when I was younger, if you choose Pryor against GOAT candidate level op in fantasy fights people respect Pryor enough to keep the conversation respectful while still teaching you about their perspective. Which is a hard feat to pull tbh. Most people agree and get quiet or disagree and get loud. This being kinda a grey issue, it's just nice to get gray responses.

[QueensburyRules]

I learned a while back, when I was younger, if you choose Pryor against GOAT candidate level op in fantasy fights people respect Pryor enough to keep the conversation respectful while still teaching you about their perspective. Which is a hard feat to pull tbh. Most people agree and get quiet or disagree and get loud. This being kinda a grey issue, it's just nice to get gray responses.

- - Except it ain't grey to me. Leonard was a rare talent, but we saw what Duran did to him when the fight mattered most. Pryor out boxed Tommy in the amas and compiled a statistically better title record with fewer fights and more KOs.

But Ray was the pretty All American boy with the big smile while Pryor was doing c r a c k and running with thugs.

[Willie Pep 229]

- - Except it ain't grey to me. Leonard was a rare talent, but we saw what Duran did to him when the fight mattered most. Pryor out boxed Tommy in the amas and compiled a statistically better title record with fewer fights and more KOs.

But Ray was the pretty All American boy with the big smile while Pryor was doing c r a c k and running with thugs.

Yeah, but Ray was doing ******* and running with lawyers (Trainer).

[Willow The Wisp]

Leonard was usually ON and very seldom OFF.
He is a very strong candidate for the best boxer produced post 1960.

[JAB5239]

- - Except it ain't grey to me. Leonard was a rare talent, but we saw what Duran did to him when the fight mattered most. Pryor out boxed Tommy in the amas and compiled a statistically better title record with fewer fights and more KOs.

But Ray was the pretty All American boy with the big smile while Pryor was doing c r a c k and running with thugs.

Duran beat Ray in a close fight. And Pryor was no Duran. Roberto had an excellent defense to go with his offense. Plus we saw what Ray did when he decided to fight his own fight instead of getting duped into slugging with Duran. Pryor was never on Ray's level.

[Willie Pep 229]

Duran beat Ray in a close fight. And Pryor was no Duran. Roberto had an excellent defense to go with his offense. Plus we saw what Ray did when he decided to fight his own fight instead of getting duped into slugging with Duran. Pryor was never on Ray's level.

I agree. But it is too bad the kid didn't get the fight. He had earned a million dollar payday and we know he would have given it his all.

Plus we lost out on a great fight.

P.S. I am not a Pryor fan. I think SRL would have been too big, punch too hard, and was relentless when he had you at bay. SRL by stoppage.