Were the four kings of the 1980s really scared of Aaron Pryor?

I'd make Leonard a clear favorite to defeat Pryor. Leonard could match him in speed and movement, and Ray probably hit a little harder.

We saw Pryor and Hearns fight in 1976. Hearns didn't blow him away. In fact, Tommy lost. Four years later, Hearns was bigger, but so was Pryor. Tommy's size didn't bother Pryor. Had they met at welter, I could see it going 15 rounds. And I could see Pryor closing strong. Hearns' productivity tended to go down the later the fight went. He got a little jab happy. I can see Hearns edging Pryor over 15. But if anyone got stopped in that fight, I'd lean toward Tommy falling apart late.

I don't think Duran beats Pryor ever. Neither do Benitez or Cuevas. I'd make Pryor a favorite over all three.

 

Eh.........I think it's wise to go easy on the mention of the amateur bout between Pryor and Hearns. Precious little to be drawn from that . Hearns then was nothing at all like he would become .

 

I don't know why we shouldn't mention it. Hearns filled out and added about 15 to 20 pounds in the years after that (I'm talking about 1980, 1981, 1982). Pryor added about eight pounds. Hearns didn't get any taller. His arms didn't get any longer. He didn't change trainers.

The big difference later was Hearns planted his feet more, tried to punch with more power ... but he also was less active.

We saw them in the ring together. Pryor could handle his size. It wouldn't have been a puzzle for him, like it was for some others.

Over a pro distance, I'd give Hearns the slight edge, like I said. But I also believe if someone got stopped, it would be Hearns. Pryor would get knocked down, and he always popped back up immediately, sometimes throwing shots while getting up. When Hearns got hurt, his body and legs would stiffen, and you could see the wheels coming off.

Pryor was very flexible in the ring and could handle trouble. Hearns wasn't as adaptable.

 

No, I cant take any credit from that!

 

No ,your question was,"who beat a prime Hearns?"
I gave you two names.Leonard & Hagler..
Basilio beat a 36 years old Robinson.
Spot the difference?

 

This x 10 000. Taking the mateur bout as meaningful is insane. Hearns was featherfisted at that point among 173 other things. Hearns would be the worst matchup of all of them for him.

 

Are you suggesting that Kent Green who KO'D Ali in 2 rounds as an amateur wouldn't have beaten him as a professional?!

 

I am halfway to implying that yes. I'd give Ali a "slight" edge. We saw them in the ring together and Kent showed he could handle Ali's handspeed and movement and these would not trouble him in the pro's. Ali's durability was also shown to present no problem. Ali would probably pull it out but if someone got stopped it's obviously going to be Ali.

 

When Tommy met Pryor he looked more like a poor Ali copy. As a pro he would develop into a SRR-like puncher with freakish proportions. You can't really deduce much from the first version to the second.

Nightmarish match-up for Pryor.

 

Kent Green was 3 years older than Ali.
Clay was stopped in 1957, he was still just 15 years old.
Green was 18 or 17.5.


The only thing Green showed was that he could stop a fast boy.


Ali wouldn't "probably pull it out as a pro", he would have destroyed Kent Green.

18 year old Ali would have roughly 20 pounds on him, much increased strength from his amateur days, a better chin, much more experience than before.

If anyone is getting stopped it's Green.

 

I saw that press conference and Leonard didn't want none. I remember hearing that him and Duran couldn't come to terms so the fight never happened. I don't know about Hearns although I doubt it. Leonard had a reason to be scared. He had a lot to lose and there was a real possibility that the Hawk would've knocked him out of his ivory tower.

 

Exactly.

See Tyson-Tillman, Lewis-Biggs as clear examples.

Hearns would destroy Pryor, not if ands or buts about it.

 

Have you read the new book "Fraudulent Greatness: How Muhammad Ali avoided Kent Green for two decades and fooled a generation" ?
It's the best one yet on the subject, even better than Senor Pepe's "Kent Green, People's Champion."

 

No is my answer