Sept. '81. Negotiations for the Leonard fight have broken down. Thomas Hearns instead accepts the challenge of WBA Jr. Welterweight Champion Aaron Pryor. 15 Rounds.
Pryor had a very strong chin. and is fast & strong enough to take the fight on the inside.. (Hearns' weakness) IMO Pryor would give Hearns alot of trouble.
I also think Pryor would give Hearns trouble with his aggression for a few rounds, but it's only a matter of time before the right hand comes crashing down.
Hearns' best chance is to take Pryor out early, like Cuevas, Duran. If Pryor survives past the sixth. Hearns could be in major trouble. Pryor gets stronger & if Hearns takes enough shots, he gets weaker.
A rematch carried all the way from the amateurs, ey? Yeah, I'd have my money on Tommy though I'm sure Aaron would take the fight to him.
Yes, there is that. Hearns always fared best at getting opponents out with an early bomb. Tommy wasn't made for deep waters, not against super aggressive guys. Only Pryor is a bit too small, and his nonstop offense is his only defense. He'd eat too many shots.
if Arguello was jolting Pryor with right hands just a year later, Tommy is decapitating Aaron. Alexis had a beautiful right hand but Hearns right was faster, longer and harder, and it is Pryor moving up to fight a guy in his own weight not a guy who has moved 10-15lbs over his best weight
Since their amateur days, Steward had taught Hearns how to punch. Pryor was too easy to hit. If, however, Pryor actually proved to be impervious as he was against Arguello, Tommy would be dead. The Hawk soared over the top with both lefts and rights, and Hearns was a tall target, not yet at full strength before moving up to 154.
Everyone is going to say Hearns has an easy time with Pryor (thats what they usually say). But Pryor is going to be the second biggest challenge for Hearns. Pryor's chance comes on the inside/mid range, Hearns was weak at this distance and Leonard/Hagler/Barkley fully exploited this. Pryor's footspeed, head movement, aggression and chin maybe enough to get past Hearns jab/right into the inside where he can beat Tommy up and make Tommy fight at an uncomfortable pace. But then again Pryor may have nightmares getting past Hearns jab/right, Duran did after all I lean towards Hearns but Pryor is a much more live opponent than anyone makes him out to be
Pryor takes the fight inside, where he is much better and more experienced, he wins because he is inside the jab
Okay i've just read your post, you beat me to it. I was only semi kidding/playing devil's advocate with my post. In reality i think Hearns wins because of size, but my post stands in terms of the two meeting in a hypothetical p4p match up.