Aaron Pryor vs Ike Williams @ 135

Hmmmm...never really thought about this one before??? My initial thought is Ike, but I would need to spend more time thinking on it to determine why and/or how....

 

Pryor's swarming techniques would ultimately cost him here. He will make Ike work...but Ike will make him pay.

 

:deal

 

I think Williams mastery of Beau Jack might be instructive.

 

Exactly. Ike was too good a finisher too. If (or better, 'when') he manages to hurt Pryor like Arguello did, I don't think he ever lets him off the hook anymore.

 

The Ike williams I saw demolish Beau Jack in Philly , cuts up the easy to hit Aaron Pryor at 135 pounds...Ike at his 135 pound best was a murderous puncher[uncuffed] ,just a shade below the great WW Ray Robinson...
Ike stops Pryor at 135 lbs...

 

Williams. Hell he fought above 135 a few times and dropped Gavlian and gave him a go. He stops Pryor IMO

 

I like Ike. He's one of the best head to head lightweights of all time.

 

I have great respect for Aaron Pryor`s ability as a fighter when he was at his peak. It didnt last long because of other reasons.

Pryor was fast and had a good punch himself. He also threw from awkward angles. He was a swarmer with power. Great stamina and was just vicious. He did show some good boxing skills in his biggest fight against Alexis Arguello.

With that said Ike Williams was elite. A great slugger/boxer. He fought so many tough Lightweights like Montegomery, Jack and even went to `47 and had success.

I think I would have to take Ike Williams because he just proved himself more over a longer period of time.

Plus I dont think charging into Ike Williams is healthy. He was too good.

 

Yeah, because the big names there (e.g. Ray Mancini) wanted nothing to do with him. Aaron was messed around so much and ducked he figured why not jump at the (then new) 140lb weight class.

Back to Williams vs Pryor

This would be WAR. However at 135 I think Williams is a tad stronger, a tad sharper and just a better fighter. Aaron would put up an amazing fight with his unorthodox style, workrate and cominations but the cleaner shots from Williams earn him the decision win.

 

Having seen both Duran and Williams, who do you think is the better lightweight?

 

:klitfanb:

 

I'm betting he says Williams, and I would agree. I would pick Willams in a razor close LW matchup.

By the way, 140 division has been around for alot longer than the 80's... "Nov. 15, 1922- As a result of a poll taken in The Boxing Blade, Pinkey Mitchell is proclaimed the first junior welterweight champion."

 

Hya B. As a lightweight H2H I pick Ike Williams, BOTH at their LW peak...
Simply Ike Williams dominated a GREAT crop of lightweights of a golden age of 135 pound fighters, many who i saw ringside...Such as Beau Jack, Bob Montgomery, Sammy Angott, Freddie Dawson, Willie Joyce, Johnny Bratton [a hell of a fighter],Slugger White, Lulu Constantino [won 56 fights in a row], Mexican greats as Enrique Bolanos, and Juan Zurita, etc...Duran
on the other hand as a lightweight fought a Ken Buchanan and an Estaban DeJesus with whom Duran split with, who were able to even cope with the
lightweight greats of the 1940s..So H2h I pick Ike Williams uncuffed, to beat Roberto Duran at lightweight ...If Ike Williams wasn't banned from fighting by the managers Guild of that day, and allowed to go all out, he was just a shade under Ray Robinson as a combination puncher...Ike in his prime was so feared, that Willie Pep the great FW champ never thought of
challenging Ike Williams for a LW title shot, nor did the tall Sandy Saddler
entertain that thought, though Pep and Saddler each fought some lightweight fighters...But they knew BETTER...Ike was that good...