Aaron Pryor vs Julio Cesar Chavez at 140

I'd take Pryor by decision

Julio was better at 135 lbs.

He could be outsped at 140 lbs and Pryor had the funky moves and quick handspeed to frustrate him.

Pryor was also very resilent, although prone to flash knockdowns.

Pryor by decision.

 

I lean slightly towards Chavez by decision. I think Pryor's recklessness might cost him in this one. It opened up a lot of counter-punching opportunities for Arguello, and Chavez would capitalize on those mistakes, as well. And, unlike Arguello, I think Chavez would hold up to Pryor's return fire just fine. But, I don't have any major gripes with anyone who picks Pryor by decision. It would be a magnificent battle.

 

I like Aaron .. faster, far more skilled than give credit for and the bigger puncher .. he'd need all his game or Chavez would beat him down slowly ..

 

tough call. I think Pryor's speed causes JCC trouble, and on the flip side, I think JCC's bodywork and better technique causes Pryor trouble. Like someone said if they fought 10 times each would win a few. Hell I think you could say if they fought 5 times both would win a few. But if I had to bet money on the outcome, I'd take JCC by a close, and perhaps even disputed, decision.

 

Therein lies the difference.

 

Aaron Pryor didn't look natural. No human being should be able to keep up that level of intensity for 15 rounds like he did.

How did he sustain that workrate? Something seems weird about that.

I don't see how Chavez can win if Pryor just goes turbo stamina like he did against Arguello.

 

Chavez all the way.

Whatever Pryor brings to the ring, Chavez has the same or more.

 

I feel less strongly about this fight than I did almost two decades ago. Chavez peaked around 87 at 135, i think. He lost a little at 140 IMO. What a fighter he still was however and he did have a super run at that weight.

12 rounds would be a rip off for this fight. It was 15 written all over it. I think it would be hugely competitive and very close. At this point i would respect any answer other than a whooping or early stoppage either way.

 

See the Chavez vs Taylor fight for reference. Then imagine Taylor with Pryor's power, unorthodox angles, and not waiting around for receipts, as Taylor did in their fight.
Love Chavez, but anytime I think of this hypothetical match up, I relate it to what Taylor was able to do to Chavez for about nine rounds.
Then I see Pryor's slightly slower but much more powerful punches having a much more damaging effect.
Especially over 12rds.
Personally I like Pryor over 12rds by UD, and possibly a late stoppage at 15rds.
Chavez did seem to get frustrated and find away out in a couple of fights.
That's not easily overlooked by me. Especially in a fight against a windmill like Pryor.
There's only one fighter who did his best fighting between lightweight and welterweight I believe would beat prime Pryor at Jr. Welterweight. Only one that had the hand and feet quickness, power, chin, skills, and right style and physicality to eventually overwhelm Pryor.
And he he never fought at the weight .
That's Roberto Duràn......
He's the only lock I've seen, everyone else Pryors at the least 50/50 against.

 

Pryor was amazing , fit, tireless and a big puncher . Chavez was much tighter, a murderous body puncher with an iron chin, I don't know ... People today don't know how great Pryor was at 140, what speed and power , what raw skill .. so much better and more dangerous than a Meldrick Taylor but to slug with Chavez, even though Pryor was likely the harder puncher .. tough one ..

 

Chavez was magnitudes better the boxer and fighter.

Julio wins even against the one Panama mixed.

 

Pryor in a spirited effort, using his superior foot movement to "pepper" Chavez from the outside, a genius strategy by his camp to break his spirit.

Pryor would NEVER stay in front of him but strike at him from different angles

WOULD he break him? I'm not sure but I know it wouldnt be pretty. Chavez is definitely outgunned here. Even Arguello was in awe of him, saying "I have never faced an opponent who hit me with both hands at the same time"

 

This is what Chavez would be facing all night; BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM BAM!

 

Assuming this is 15 rounds.

Pryor is a speed demon, terrific combination puncher with good power (though I think he is a little overrated in this department).

If he were to simply box in and out then I´d go for the Hawk on points.

But when has Pryor ever done this?

His game is volume attack, though he fights from unorthodox angles he is easy to hit.

He was dropped hard by Dujuan Johnson, an old Antonio Cervantes plus flash knockdown vs Akio Kameda.

Apart from Arguello and Cervantes, his opposition has been very weak.

Chavez at his peak was a terrific body puncher, steel chin and at light-welter he was at his best.

His past victories over Rosario, Ramirez (dropped Arguello and probably deserved the decision), Meldrick I,Camacho,Mayweather and Haugen stack higher than Aaron´s.

Some of his weaker title fight competition (Duplesis,Frank Mitchell, Angel Hernandez, Sammy Fuentes, Terrence Alli) were better than Pryor´s.

As much as I like Pryor (I still rate his fight with Dujuan Johnson as one of the best fights I have ever seen) I think he would get worn down and stopped after a hellish fight for both.

This content is protected