Prime Roberto Duran vs Prime Aaron Pryor

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by Ali Frazier, Aug 16, 2014.


  1. Ali Frazier

    Ali Frazier KO ARTIST Full Member

    952
    18
    Mar 9, 2014
    I believe Aaron Pryor is very underrated largely due to the lack of exposure he got in his relatively short career, with the exception of the Arguello fight. People also seem to say that Pryor only won that fight by cheating but he KO'd Alexis in the rematch so that can't have been the only reason. However Pryor's natural weight was 140 and even pushing up towards 147 had a fight with Leonard materialized. To make lightweight would be an extreme effort.

    Roberto Duran simply put is the greatest lightweight I have ever seen. People talk about the likes of Willy Pep but I never saw him. I never saw a fighter who I thought at lightweight would beat Duran. He was an animal and had underrated boxing skills as well. His fights with DeJesus were epic and to me he beats anyone at lightweight from any era.

    As you have probably guessed I am picking Duran here. I think it would be a good fight but Pryor has come down a lot in weight to fight a legend and I think Duran wears him down and then stops him.
     
  2. lepinthehood

    lepinthehood When I'm drinking you leave me well alone banned Full Member

    52,105
    23,328
    Aug 27, 2011
  3. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

    16,279
    15,346
    Jun 9, 2007
    Duran wins an entertaining fight. Possable by ko
     
  4. Ali Frazier

    Ali Frazier KO ARTIST Full Member

    952
    18
    Mar 9, 2014
  5. Brixton Bomber

    Brixton Bomber Obsessed with Boxing banned Full Member

    21,934
    6,105
    Sep 21, 2013
    It would have been a savage war.
     
  6. slash

    slash Boxing Addict Full Member

    6,544
    2,805
    Apr 15, 2012
    great, great fight. couldn't be any other way.
     
  7. SILVER SKULL 66

    SILVER SKULL 66 Well-Known Member Full Member

    2,714
    47
    Oct 6, 2013
    Duran UD, in a tough slugfest, where both guy's probably hit the floor...
     
  8. ForemanJab

    ForemanJab Boxing Junkie Full Member

    14,998
    12,324
    May 8, 2014
    Duran would finish Pryor late in a war of attrition.
     
  9. Cobra33

    Cobra33 Boxing Junkie Full Member

    13,539
    13,001
    Feb 2, 2006
    When he wanted too Pryor could box and throw punches from different angles.
     
  10. Vanboxingfan

    Vanboxingfan Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    16,591
    255
    Feb 5, 2005
    Biggest difference would be Duran's defense, it was significantly better than Pyror's, so Pryor would be getting hit a lot more.
     
  11. he grant

    he grant Historian/Film Maker

    25,442
    9,428
    Jul 15, 2008

    Pretty valid .. it would have been one hell of a fight thought .. I simply think the best Duran was simply better even though Aaron was exceptional .. one terrific match up.
     
  12. 2piece

    2piece Well-Known Member Full Member

    1,995
    278
    Feb 14, 2014
    Pryor actually was a lightweight who moved to jww because no one would fight him.
     
  13. Stevie G

    Stevie G Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

    25,162
    8,641
    Jul 17, 2009

    Sounds good to me. At 135-140 lbs Duran was nigh on unbeatable
     
  14. mr. magoo

    mr. magoo VIP Member Full Member

    51,156
    25,380
    Jan 3, 2007
    Great fight but Duran wins. I don't think anyone under welterweight can afford to trade with Duran at will, while lacking defensively as Pryor did.
     
  15. Shake

    Shake Boxing Addict Full Member

    5,633
    58
    May 4, 2007
    Aaron had the uncanny ability to open up completely and not be totally open. His shucking, jiving, herky-jerky awkward in and out off-rythm movement could befuddle opponents -- they were not used to an opponent like this, because opening up against a world-ranker in this way is usually foolhardy.

    Duran was brilliant at close range. All he has to do is take a step forward, using his defensive prowess to ride the hooks, and he is in a zone where he knows how to pick his shots and protect himself. Even at midrange he is no slouch, able to shoot a variety of shots to the midriff, and even Pryor can't move his lower body to where Duran can't find it.

    Duran rides this storm like no other, landing thudding shots, until Pryor opts to either go for broke or take a step back and box a bit. Either way, Aaron never wins this.