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

[JAB5239]

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.

Agree with all of this.

[QueensburyRules]

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.

- - Duran beat him pillar to post while humiliating Ray who was lucky in Montreal because the UK/French/Italian Judges were not credible championship judges, only 85 bouts between them.

What we saw the second fight was Duran not given enough time to safely make weight, such that after weighin, his handlers threw him two whole g****fruits that he choked down unpeeled. Then he headed to a steak house for 2 whole Steak dinners that erupted his bowels in the ring.

Had Duran 4-5 more weeks to make weight, he'd had whooped Ray as bad as he would whoop up U!!!

[JAB5239]

- - Duran beat him pillar to post while humiliating Ray who was lucky in Montreal because the UK/French/Italian Judges were not credible championship judges, only 85 bouts between them.

What we saw the second fight was Duran not given enough time to safely make weight, such that after weighin, his handlers threw him two whole g****fruits that he choked down unpeeled. Then he headed to a steak house for 2 whole Steak dinners that erupted his bowels in the ring.

Had Duran 4-5 more weeks to make weight, he'd had whooped Ray as bad as he would whoop up U!!!

You must not have watched the fight. Leonard tried to fight Durans fight until the later rounds. The fight was still very close. Ray was not beaten pillar to post. Just another exaggeration in a long line of exaggeration or outright lies by you.

as far as the second fight, you can come up with all the excuses you want. But Duran had no one to blame but himself. As far as the fight went, it was still closely contested but this time Ray was fighting his fight and made Duran quit. Even Durans manager said Duran quit because he was embarrassed.

Ray widened the gap even more in the third fight. When both fought their own fight, Ray proved to have Durans number.

So all your conjecture, it's for nothing. Doesn't matter. Has no relevance. That is a fact my friend.

[Willie Pep 229]

Duran won the first fight because he wanted it more than any fight he was ever in. He forced himself on Leonard every step of the way.

Duran forced Leonard to fight his fight. It is nonsense to say "Ray" choose to fight Duran's fight. That is an excuse. Duran gave him no choice, he was in Leonard's face every second of every round.

Duran walked away from the fight contented and that was his undoing.

For the second fight he didn't train. He didn't prepare himself mentally. He wasn't willing to give blood and guts to win. He showed up for the payday. That was never going to work against Leonard.

He realized halfway through he was being embarrassed and so he quit.

[JAB5239]

Duran won the first fight because he wanted it more than any fight he was ever in. He forced himself on Leonard every step of the way.

Duran forced Leonard to fight his fight. It is nonsense to say "Ray" choose to fight Duran's fight. That is an excuse. Duran gave him no choice, he was in Leonard's face every second of every round.

Duran walked away from the fight contented and that was his undoing.

For the second fight he didn't train. He didn't prepare himself mentally. He wasn't willing to give blood and guts to win. He showed up for the payday. That was never going to work against Leonard.

He realized halfway through he was being embarrassed and so he quit.

I disagree. Ray chose to let Duran get under his skin beforehand and fought Durans fight instead of his own. I just watched the fight again and the announcers mention this between the tenth and eleventh round, and again in the fourteenth. I'm not saying it wasn't Leonard's fault....of course it was. But he wasn't beaten pillar to post by any means. Very close fight that both showed their heart and greatness.

As far as the second fight....like Leonard in the first, Duran had no one to blame but himself. Ray fought HIS fight the second time around. Fought his fight in their third fight. And while I don't consider him greater than Duran, I do believe he had the style (when he applied it) to beat Durans style more times than not.

[Biledriver]

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.

The only one drugged is Queenie: Doped out on meth and bathtub gin It's very clear from reputable sources that Pryor was getting chemical help during fights courtesy of Panama Lewis. The crying shame is that Pryor was good enough to be a great fighter without that all that chemical bullsh it.

[Anomalocaris]

Ray's power is underrated by some.

He could punch.

Ok not on Tommy's level but not too far behind.

[JAB5239]

Ray's power is underrated by some.

He could punch.

Ok not on Tommy's level but not too far behind.

He didn't have Tommy's pure one punch knockout power, but he had enough to hurt you. And once he hurt you he was like a shark to blood. He was an exceptional finisher.

[djtmal]

Without getting too technical, Srl by late round stoppage.

1st half of the fight to the Hawk.

[Anomalocaris]

He didn't have Tommy's pure one punch knockout power, but he had enough to hurt you. And once he hurt you he was like a shark to blood. He was an exceptional finisher.

I agree100%.