Could Pacquiao conceivably go punch for punch with Pryor, and come out on top? Say what you like about Pryor not really establishing himself as a great champion, but at his peak, he was about as dangerous as anyone I've ever seen in the ring. Fast hands, hard puncher, never-ending stamina, and it was unbelievable to watch him work behind the jab for a few rounds against Alexis. All of them on target, and snapping Arguello's head back. Plus, I think there were about three or four shots in that fight that I'd credit as being some of the hardest shots I've ever seen land without the other fighter going down. Arguello must have **** his pants when those right hands landed flush, and Pryor would smile.
Pryor had very poor defense against southpaws. If Pacquiao is able to keep his composure under Pryor's opening onslaught, then he should be able to tee off on him.
I like Pryor here. Both men are open to being hit, but Pryor to me is more proven with regards to being able to withstand punishment than Pac is. I say Pryor knocks him out after an even battle for 10 rounds. Pryor hits the deck a couple of times as is custom, but bounces back to eventually stop Pac. Whilst Pac beared up quite well to Cotto's punches, there were moments where his movement was paused by Cotto's punches. Pryor isn't the gassy type that needs to throw a combo and then wait 20 seconds to re-fuel for another assault. If he makes Pac stand still he's going to pour it on.
I'm willing to bet if punch stats existed in the 80s, Pryor would have been proven to have thrown close to a 100 punches a round against Alexis.
I like Pryor by stoppage in round 12. It would be competitive while it lasted, but Aaron the Hawk is ultimately too strong and relentless for Manny to overcome.
Pacquaio is faster, straighter sharper puncher, I'd pick him as a bigger hitter, better defense and can work at a very fast pace. Its no easy fight but he should clearly win it
I personally would pic Pacquaio, but wouldn't bet a lot of money on it. To me they are both very elite fighters, but Pac has proven he has power into 145lb or so, and it's the type of war they'd both enjoy. They are just below Duran and SSM in terms of the upper eshleons of boxing and even then they're not much below either, not that Duran and SSM are in the same league either, Duran's just a 1/2 level above him. But it's all very elite top notch stuff.
I'll have to disagree with you PowerPuncher. Manny has faster hands, but Pryor had quickness of his own and could go shot for shot with Manny, and if he can take flush right hands from Alexis Arguello, I don't envision Manny making too many dents. I think a lot of Pryors knockdowns were as a result of balance, so he might go down, but he'd just get up mad like he did against Cervantes and proceed to throw harder. Likewise, Cotto showed what a good jab can do against Manny, and we saw Pryor display a good one in some rounds of their epic first bout. He was a world class amateur, he was much like Morales in that he could outbox many of his opponents, but he rather throw leather and get his man out of there. Pacquiao only wins this fight if he can hurt Pryor, because Aaron goes for 15 full rounds throwing 100 punches a round, and we've never seen evidence of Manny being able to do that. Pryor wins late, by TKO. In my judgment.
I personally think Pacquio can hurt Pryor, if he can hurt Cotto, and Oscar, I don't see why he couldn't hurt Pryor.
Maybe because Pryor had a better chin than Cotto ever displayed at 140 and 147, and Oscar was never really hurt in my judgment. Look, put it this way, whenever a fighter gets hit that often, there's going to be a reaction. Another man is punching you in the face, it's going to take its toll. But no single shot ever buzzed Oscar in my judgment. Pryor was a crazy *******, taking those bombs against Alexis.