How was it out of the Arguello fights? How much talent was squeezed into his 30 something fights? And was he on any kind of performance enhancers things outside of the first Arguello fight?
He did win the title from Cervantes a Hall of Famer. His competition wasn't that great, its more so how he looked against them.
Yep I would say so. I can't think who around his time would have offered a challenge. If Leonard hadn't retired Pryor was moving up to welterweight to face him.
Pryor was awesome, I would favor him against any 140 pounder ever including JC Chavez. Pryor's power and work rate was insane, his competiton was not great but he KO'ed about 90 percent of them. I don't think Leonard wanted any part of him, to much risk not enough reward.
Pryor's opposition excepting Arguello was decent but nothing special. Foster and Holmes were also a tad unlucky not to have had better comp.
I watched several of Pryor's fights as he was coming up and both Arguello fights. I'd probably rank him as the #1 ATG light welterweight. He didn't need to face every great light welterweight in history to prove he was the best. It was obvious from the performances he gave, which are probably available on DVD or tape. He was a buzzsaw, unstoppable and intimidating. He admits that Arguello hurt him a couple of times with brutal uppercuts that snapped his head back. Pryor recalls seeing the auditorium lights and not much else for a moment! But I think Pryor is being generous to Arguello (they have been friends for years). Pryor didn't seem the slightest bit stunned. Keep in mind that being the #1 ATG pro light welterweight has a very narrow scope. In the old days, when it was either lightweight or welterweight, fewer fighters were able to successfully make the 10-12 lb. transition. That's why weight divisions are micro managed now. Pryor was too big for lightweight and we'll never know how he might have fared at welterweight for a couple of reasons, chiefly missed opportunities and drug use. Hypothetically speaking (assuming all in their primes), I think Sugar Ray Leonard and Floyd Mayweather would have found ways to duck Pryor, whether at light welter, welterweight or some newly invented catchweight. Duran would have taken him on and had a helluva a tough time. I'd like to have seen three fights between Duran and Pryor at light welterweight. Mosley wouldn't duck him but I don't think Shane beats Pryor. Meldrick Taylor would have fought Pryor and been KO'd (Meldrick was a courageous guy). Oscar DLH - nope, not at light welter. Oscar's prime weight was jr. lightweight and lightweight. JC Chavez wouldn't have been able to solve the riddle - Pryor could be as slick as Meldrick Taylor and Pernell Whitaker and hit waaay harder than any of 'em. And I'd give Sweet Pea a good shot at Pryor - Sweet Pea was just so slick. But Pryor would have walked right through Pernell to get at him and might have ended it.
What ones did he beat tho? Cervantes was very old and Arguello wasn't even a junior welter. Actually he was a natural lightweight but was a bit avoided so it goes and moved to 140 in order to get a title shot faster. One of the biggest myths in ESB history. Leonard was down to fight him after Stafford, but the retina stopped all that.
Pryor's competition wasn't too bad, but it wasn't great either. Arguello was nearing the end of his career and was moving up to 140 and Cervantes was past his prime, but two great names to have on a resume nonetheless. Pryor dominated his competition in his prime and was like a modern day Henry Armstrong.
Pryor was exciting to watch if you was a member of the lay public. If you knew something about boxing, you would probably think differently, due to his opposition, and also because of the phenomenal amount of cocaine he took before a fight
He used PEDs in the Arguello fight. Arguello also used PEDs in the fight against Ruben Olivares. They're all PED cheats. [yt]c3YqLYCniqU[/yt] @ 5:00
