Stupid Things People Say Because of Legendary Nights

"Ray Leonard and the other big names (at welter) ducked Aaron Pryor, they were scared of him"

This is what happens when people bring in a 5th grade lunchroom mentality to boxing. "Oh my god, he called him out and he didn't fight him, he's so scared of him and ducking him". Besides the fact that they were in different weight classes anyway, and that damn everyone challenges the big name for a big money fight, Pryor (or his team) wasn't happy with a $500,000 offer from Leonard's camp, so they turned the offer down. Pryor also had an offer for $750,000 for Duran, but it fell through. Pryor was going through managerial problems at the time, and had to sort that out, and by the time he cleared it up, Duran looked elsewhere.

Where Pryor's real legacy/achievements were hurt by guys "avoiding" him was at lightweight, where he was a top ranked contender but never got any offers (to my knowledge) at the title there. He most likely would've handled the champs at 135.

"Meldrick Taylor was brain-damaged and totally ruined from the Julio Cesar Chavez fight alone"

I do think that Taylor was never the same after the Chavez fight, but he was still a good fighter for a little while afterwards. Aaron Davis was no scrub, and Taylor moved up in weight to beat Davis for a welterweight title, 10 months after losing to Chavez. Taylor took too much punishment in general, and does anyone picture a Philly fighter like him taking it easy during sparring (which plays a big role in brain damage)? Taylor's management also made a big mistake IMO in having him move up to fight Terry Norris. The Chavez fight was the worst beating he took, but far from the only one.

 

thanks for posting this stuff its important and interesting

 

Sarcasm?

I don't find it important.

I just get annoyed at times by ignorance.

 

Didn't you make this thread before?

 

I don't remember ever doing it on this board.

 

I actually think Leonard was intimidated by Pryor. Doesn't mean he would've ducked him, or indeed lost to him.

Pryor was more avoided at LW. But he ended up fighting Arguello anyways, so he beat the best LW of those couple of years IMO.

I agree with you entirely on Taylor. Although Chavez probably did play a part. The 2nd fight with Chavez must not have done Taylor a lot of good either, he took a beast of a left hook in that fight and was wobbled on a few occassions.

 

What makes you say that?

 

well...from that bit on 'Legendary Nights' where Pryor confronts Leonard at a press conference and Leonard seems very dismissive of him, doesn't look him in the eye or anything. And Pryor couldn't have been an attractive prospect to anyone around that time, iron-chinned windmill who could also box well. He was Leonard's smaller doppleganger (different styles but same qualities, although Leonard could never be described as a windmiller, he was often relentless, with a super-fast two-fisted attack, I'm sure you can see the comparison I'm trying to make)

Without the resume to match sadly.

And of course the long-talked of 'workouts' between the two which I'd heard of prior to 'Legendary Nights'.

 

I don't think Leonard would be intimidated by Pryor considering the men he went on to fight. He beat Tommy Hearns, Duran, and Hagler, all much more intimidating figures than Pryor. Hard for me to believe.

 

Leonard was dismissive because he was busy fighting Duran and Hearns. I think Pryor was pencilled in for Leonard after the proposed Roger Stafford fight (when SRL got the injury) but, either way, Pryor could have at least had one fight at weltlerweight to try and force the fight but he didn't. I don't think his style would have moved up the weights well esp. against a fighter like Leonard TBH.

 

I was thinking you might think that, but I actually meant it. I like to read a thread and actually learn some things rather than the squabbily squiggly talk so many are full of.

 

Fair enough points from all. I just think there was something about Pryor that irked Ray.

All things considered, if Pryor had stepped up to WW at the time mentioned previously, I think Ray would've won on points, 10-5, something like that. Maybe Pryor gets KD once or twice, but I think his chin would've seen him through to the end.

 

I fail to see how Legendary Nights is a BAD thing. At least people KNOW who Aaron Pryor is ya know? It could be worse without Legendary Nights...for instance:

"Whose Aaron Pryor? Hatton KO Pryor in 4, I bet he's some old bum."

Least they show him a little respect ya know?

 

Thats a fair comment but its the way it just "gospel" that Leonard ducked Pryor largely because of the Legendary Nights program that annoys me. Its people that have watched the program and not bothered to look into either fighters records or how the timelines work out.

Leonard was retired in early 1982 which is way before Pryor had even rematched Arguello at 140......c'mon guys!!!!

 

What was with that one guy claiming one judge from Nicaragua was giving Arguello every round in the first Pryor fight?

These were the scorecards:

Stanley Christodoulou 127-124 Pryor
Ken Morita 127-125 Arguello
Ove Ovesen 127-124 Pryor