Sept. '81. Thomas Hearns .Vs. Aaron Pryor

Ok, I get your point. I'm finishing off a series of classes for college and it's a pain in the ass. That's why I come across as aggravated.

Since you mentioned that there were more important matches to be held for three of the four kings other than Pryor, I was wondering if you could bring them to light for me so I could understand what you're getting at a little better.

I think that Pryor would have been an excellent match up for Duran, Leonard, or Hearns. Granted, Pryor would probably come close to winning at least one of those fights.

I dunno, I'd say he might have a chance at Duran during the time period they might have fought at by decision. Hearns would have won via wearing him down with Pryor being as game as they come. Leonard would have probably picked apart his charging style and outboxed him on his bicycle.

 

In theory Pryor would be a good match-up for Duran, although I don't think he'd pose a threat - it would be more a case of adding another name to Duran's record. I don't think he'd be physical enough to make a dent against the greats at 147. It wouldn't be a massively significant win for any of them. Pryor was probably a natural Lightweight after all.

The key term, though, is "in theory". Whilst the idea of Pryor fighting any of the three greats that were hovering around in his era sounds nice on paper, the point I was trying to make was that I can't see any real time where it would have made much sense for the fights to happen.

Take Duran, for instance. He's probably the most realistic potential opponent for Pryor since they're roughly the same size. When Duran leap-frogged the Light Welterweight division, Pryor hadn't even won a strap. He was a contender. Duran was fighting SRL around the same time Pryor won a strap. Obviously, it would have been ridiculous for Duran to fight some random contender rather than the Welterweight champ for much more recognition and money. After he lost to Ray, I doubt he could have made 140 with his habits - but even if he could have, or if Pryor would have come up to 147 for him, why? Pryor had made precisely one defence of his belt at 140. Benitez was an established name and a chance for Duran to redeem himself. After Duran moved up to 154 it would have been even more impractical for a Duran/Pryor fight to come off, with the weight difference and all. So that match-up never really had a realistic chance of materialising.

Pryor facing Leonard or Hearns was much more obviously pie-in-the-sky. Both had bigger fish to fry, i.e. each-other, although Leonard did go after Kalule first, who wasn't a big name, but was probably a more proven fighter than Pryor at that time, as well as having the attraction of presenting the opportunity to win a world title at another weight. Once Leonard/Hearns happened, Leonard was practically out-of-action and Hearns wasn't hanging around at 147.

By all means correct me if I'm wrong, because I do have a rather superficial perspective on this, but it seems that there really was no chance for any of these match-ups to happen, Pryor was nobody special compared to the other fighters out there for all of Duran, Leonard and Hearns, and by the time he was somebody, it was too late.

 

dont koow about way too big.pryor beat him as an amateur

 

The time frame wasn't long, but there were offers though for Pryor to face Duran and Leonard. Pryor had an offer to face Duran for $700,000 at a catchweight of 150. This was in 1981 I think. Maybe 1982. Pryor had managerial issues and by the time he sorted them out, the offer to fight Duran was off the table.

Leonard offered Pryor a fight for $500,000. I'm guessing this was 1981, since Leonard's two bouts with Duran took place in June and November of 1980, and Pryor had won his 140 lb. title in August 1980 (same day as Hearns-Cuevas). Pryor talked about turning down the offer after his fight with Lennox Blackmoore, which took place in June 1981. So this offer probably came before Leonard fought Larry Bonds, or Kalule.

 

Hearns by early KO. Pryor fought with his chin up as it is.

 

Interesting. I'd heard about Leonard making such an offer but not Duran. Still, the fact that he'd have to eat up to 150 speaks for itself.

 

In 1981 Pryor had Leonard calling him out, Madison Square Garden trying to get Duran a match with Pryor, and all the while he was also eyeing Arguello. Leonard called out Pryor after he defeated Hearns. There's a few newspaper articles of this available on google somewhere.

 

Pryor speaking on the offer from Leonard:

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mybIAp2qOCc[/ame]




Why the Duran fight fell apart:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1126084/index.htm

Pryor also had a chance to unify with Mamby, but ending up taking a bullet from his wife.

 

I'd have to say that you have some good points. If Pryor could get inside and work the body like Hagler did it would be interesting, and Pryor would try this. I think Hearns would be very vunerable as he always had a suspect chin when nailed good ( Hagler, Leonard, Barkley, Kinchen, & Roldan) Kinchen fight should have been stopped as Hearns wouldn't let go of Kinchen as Hearns was rocked so bad. Still all said....Pryor had trouble quickly taking out Alexis who really was a stationary target....and I see Hearns as a way better boxer and brawler than Arguello, and who is quick of feet and has good movement with a great flicker jab. At this stage Hearns overall attributes would give him the edge. If Hearns did get rocked again I'm sure he'd be a holding. I'd root for Pryor but take Hearns.

 

Lazarus Post. Love these cause you can see who's still around.

 

Pryor is not as good or powerful as Duran as good as Benitez or hit as hard as Cuevas so I don't think Pryor does anything to Hearns and these aren't 132lb amateurs with a skinny undernourished teenage Hearns this was Hearns the man with big power and starting to get his man strength too much is made of the amateurs with these two Pryor could have fought at 135

 

Some of the amateur fight tape is available on Youtube. Pryor will on the move....not stationary like Cuevas and Duran. Plus if all else fails, the "black bottle" might come into play.

 

I agree that Hearns right hand was faster then Arguellos but not harder.

 

Great info. Good job in finding it.