Yeah, that reason being Pryor was not a big money fight at that time, as he hadn't made a name for himself anywhere close to the level of guys like Duran, Hearns, Benitez, etc. Remember, this was prior to his career-making wins against Arguello that Pryor called him out. The media at the time didn't even take the fight seriously, much less Leonard, considering the other big matches he had against natural WW's. This whole myth about Pryor ducking Leonard came about later by Pryor fans who saw the footage of the call-out, but don't seem to understand the situation at the time.
Not only is it an old myth, it is also a silly one! It's generally perpetuated by fans with little sense of boxing history. As good as Pryor was, without Arguello he would be nothing more than a forgotten footnote in boxing history. SRL showed no interest in fighting Pryor because at the time Pryor was calling him out The Hawk was a NOBODY.
I'd guess people hear it often enough and then just start repeating it themselves....Whenever Pryor is brought up I guarantee someone will claim that Leonard ducked him without really KNOWING it to be true.
So you're going to say SRL didn't know who he was. HBO said SRL and his team moved up in weight to avoid him at the olympic trials. That is just what HBO said. I am sure SRL had some worthless fights in between his mega fights. Are you going to tell me "The Hawk" didn't deserve a shot? He was just avoided because he was high risk and little reward. But hey what do I know, I only post in a boxing forum.
Duran, he'd be able to slip the punches in close and deliver counters. I don't see Pryors pressure being effective against Duran.
Duran, his style matches up well with Pryor's. He would be able to slip and get inside where his superior in-fighting skills and body attack would seal him the win. Duran beats all pressure fighters around his own size, no one was better than him up-close. Duran UD Pryor
I would take Duran too, but I wouldn't be surprised if Pryor would outbox him from the outside at times, which Pryor could do.
Leonard was willing to fight Hearns, Duran, Kalule @ 154, Benitez, and Hagler, but he must've been scared to fight Pryor, because that's what Butch Lewis on HBO's Legendary Nights implied. Everything on that documentary must be true, huh? :roll: Leonard must've had an obligation to fight the champion in the weight class below him, because he "called out" Leonard. Big name fighters who represent big paydays never get "called out", huh?
Yes, it's called cheating. Whether Pryor knew or not, he beat-up on a blown up Arguello who gave him a hell of a fight coming from two divisions lower. I don't count the second fight due to the beating Arguello took at the end of the first fight. How good or great was Pryor if Arguello would have beaten him the first fight without that special water. SRL possibly did not want to deal with either Pryor or his criminal trainer (Panama Lewis). These are lives at stake when two fighters get in the ring. I ask you my friend, knowing what happened the first fight and the other Collins fight, would you get in the ring with Pryor and Panama? I would not send my worst enemy in the ring with those two. Great no, good yes.
Also wanted to point out that without the Arguello fight which actually he was losing 127 to 124 (twice for Arguello) and 127 to 125 for Pryor, no one would be talking about Pryor today. Look at the fights prior to his fight with Arguello. He was beating up guys with record of 33-31, 15-16, and 1-6. He even got dropped by Kameda. What would SRL, Hearns, Duran, and Benitez have done to him. He fought a few good fights prior to Arguello and that was it. The eye injury ended his career. Who was he going to beat at WW and who would take a chance on getting hurt with someone like Panama in the opposite corner.
