For one, the rematch with DLH and Balco Mosley was very close to most viewers. "Almost swept"??? :roll: Why are we comparing a prime Pryor at 140 with a Mosley at 154 who hadn't won a fight in 2 years? The two are different anyway. They have some similarities in being quick guys who like to trade, but Mosley lacked the volume of Pryor. Pryor had more movement in general. Pryor didn't throw with as much power as Mosley. Mosley liked to wing shots and throw with more power (which could leave him open down the middle). Pryor liked to lay the leather on you as much as possible, even if it mean throwing arm shots.
Mosley was not better than Pryor, not at the lower weights, though he fit the higher weights better. Mosley's height was hardly the problem for Hoya, it was his vicious style, speed, and combination punching, all of which Pryor has in spades, and if you think Mosley was vicious.... You say if he almost swept a bigger, better version of Pryor? First of all, he never "swept" him, and second of all, while Pryor and Mosley shared a similarity or two, by no means were they carbon copies of one another, as I've explained. Mosley's tamer style gave Oscar fits, Pryor's would give him hell.
I like Oscar by clear decision over 12 and close decision over 15. Longer reach, better jab, power, great left hook, just as fast or faster, both had great chins. Arguello p4p was better than DLH but physically quite a bit smaller. The only thing Pryor had over Oscar at 140 is stamina, and workrate. It is not like Oscar had bad stamina at this weight either. When did he ever tire there?
Pryor in his prime was a goddamn animal who charged at you from the opening bell throwing leather. That is not a fighter Oscar prefers. Pryor was a headhunter and that sure as hell is not a style that Oscar prefers. Pryor TKO within 8. Pryor was special and considered in the "elite" class. Oscar has lost every fight when fighting the very best, the "elite" group. Why would it change with /Pryor? It wouldn't. Was Pryor that good?? He beat Arguello TWICE! You tell me.