Aaron Pryor vs Ray Leonard

Leonard by knockout. He burned out early, but in his prime he was the best I've seen in my lifetime.

 

Pryor UD

 

I'd say Leonard wins by UD. He had the ring I.Q, heart, reflexes and skills to outbox Pryor in my opinion at his very best.

 

Pryor is one of my all time favorite fighters and is arguably the best junior welter of all time.

Having said that............. Leonard would have destroyed him.

Too big, too fast, too powerful for Pryor.

Pryor was not Duran.

 

Thought about this one and discussed it many times... Two of the very best in their primes. I go back and forth on this one from day to day its hard to go against either guy when on top of their game.. But If I had to bet on one or the other and was reassured both would be at their very best I'd go with "The Hawk". Pryor was the kinda guy who just refused to be beat even more so then other great champions. I think Leonard would take him to edge even further then Argullo did but somehow The Hawk's fury would prevail in the end. Pryor by late dramatic stoppage is my best bet I think if he got the fight with Leonard it would bring out the very best in him. Should the fight go to decision I could see it going either way maybe even leaning more towards Leonard in that case but I don't think it goes the distance. If I had the privilege to see any greats meet at their very best this would be one of the match ups I'd most like to see...

 

Ray Leonard.. Naturally the bigger man with greater speed and basically better at everything.

 

People tend to forget that Aaron was prone to being knocked down and in trouble against lesser contenders.

Ray's too big and too much. He commands the action and when Aaron leaves himself open with one of his wild attacks, Ray pounces and finishes him. Could be early, could be middle of the fight, could be late, but that's what I see happening.

 

Ray, by 4th or 5th round stoppage after a couple of knockdowns.He dominates Aaron from jump.

 

Leonard by mid rounds stoppage. He has too many advantages in this one. Height, reach, power, size, chin. defense. Hand speed is close, but Ray is a little faster I think. Pryor's awkward style and speed might trouble him a bit, but not for too long. The Hawk would probably be forced to move and box because he's not going to be strong enough to run over Leonard. Leonard will cath up to him.

 

I pretty much agree with the comments relating to Leonard, but I'm not sure how Pryor would respond, he may just go down swinging. Like someone said, as good as Pryor was, he wasn't Duran good.

 

Ray was too big, too strong, and too fast for Pryor. Who could've easily been figting at 135 during his prime. Add to that the fact that Ray was more skilled than him, makes this fight pretty uncompetitive.

 

They are virtually equal in talent. And one is a weight class or two bigger. What you think that adds up to? Leonard would win a short, furious war.

 

Leonard is to good a finisher for this to go to far. I have Pryor winning by points in a wild affair until he gets caught in the mid rounds. ..Pryor ... If he survives the KO would not regain the momentum.

Leonard by close decision or 6th rd KO.

 

I think Leonard wins this one in style. Great fighter to watch, Pryor, but it's only really the Arguello fights (particularly the first one) in which he hints at being a fighter of Leonard's class.....And Arguello was a shade past his best by that stage - though obviously still a superb fighter - and the naturally smaller man. Arguello's slow, heavy feet meant he wasn't that well equipped to deal with Pryor's speed coming in and ambush attacks.

Leonard at his best had immense speed of hand and foot, a fortified chin which held up to the likes of Hearns, power in each fist and way more all-round ability than Pryor. I think Pryor gives him a good s**** and keeps it even for six, maybe seven rounds but I see Leonard taking over as things progress, dominating that point onwards and stopping Pryor sometime around the 11th round.