Gil Turner vs. Aaron Pryor

Turner wins this IMO. He was the naturally bigger man, could punch hard with both fists and was a busy, busy guy and a tough one at that. I doubt that Aaron would have had the necessary pop in his fists to discourage Turner from coming in either.

And he sure as hell wasn`t strong enough to hold his own with him on the inside as Gil was one strong guy and was built like a truck from the waist up. Aaron may be tough and durable enough to last the distance with Turner, but he ain`t going to win. Fun fight to watch though, would have paid to see it.

 

One of Kid Gavilan's most notable fights was his whipping of Turner, who he stopped (savagely I must add) in the eleventh round. The fight is notable not just because Gavilan beat a solid fighter, but because he outslugged a fighter who appeared stronger and harder hitting. Gavilan matched Turner all the way and overcame him on several occasions at mid-to-close range by hitting faster, more furiously and for longer. He beat Turner at his own game, and it proved how tough and fierce Gavilan really was. I would go as far as to say he was better at mixing it up than he was at boxing; and for this reason I pick him over such brawlers as Henry Armstrong and Mickey Walker - he could match them all the way when at close quarters, yet had the advantage on the outside.

Anyway, regarding Pryor-Turner, I may favour Pryor slightly. Though smaller, he was greater.

 

While I agree that Pryor was the greater fighter of the two, he wasn`t the stronger man and was a natural lightweight in comparison to Turner who was a bonafide welterweight and who would go on to fight at middleweight eventually.

Turner had a high workrate and could punch pretty hard with both hands, and Pryor wouldn`t have the power to hurt or discourage him. He would get bullied around in close, and even if he chooses to box which would be his best and only shot really it still wouldn`t be enough.

 

'Tis true that Turner was a fair bit bigger. And he looks great on film too; aggressive, strong, hard punching (although Gavilan just took a big whack right on the bell to end round one; didn't budge, but that's Gavilan)... This is not the first time I've seen Turner of course, but it's good to remind myself. I might agree with you. I always thought Pryor was, while good, overrated anyway.