What strategy would Leonard use against Pryor

I think when ray offered him the fight wasn't it at 147?? I can't remember .. But I do not think Ray would be in trouble in this one

 

I’m sure it was supposed to be at 147...Ray was the star and had just won the rematch with Duran, I doubt Leonard was going to shrink himself down to 140.

 

Thanks, thought so .. other posters were talking about fantasy fight at 154 .. and I'm like wait a minute do I miss something how is that possible for Pryor given his size and story

 

Pryor at about 144 lbs would be max for him.

 

Pryor was a helluva fighter, and a true ATG at Jr. Welter, if not the best ever at that weight. But he wasn't as talented as Roberto Duran. Duran was better defensively believe it or not, and was able to slip, or ride most of Leonard's punches in Montreal. Of course Pryor could slip and ride punches but, none of his opponents had the speed, or talent of prime R.Leonard. Pryor didn't have the frame to get much bigger than welter and be successful. He only went to jr.welter because he couldn't get a shot a lightweight. And I could see him easily fighting at jr.lightweight, or feather and winning a championship. But I cant see him winning a championship at welter and and above. Esp during that era. I see Pryor with his defense issues, his body frame, and his style of fighting being right up the alley what a prime Leonard did best. Leonard would feast off Pryors aggressiveness. Land pinpoint combinations and counters. Destroy Pryor within 10rds. Maybe earlier. Leonard would be all wrong for Pryor. As with quite a few fighters at welter and above during that era.

 

If they were so confident they could beat him why didnt they give him a shot at the title? Pryor moved to `40 for the opportunity to become champion.

 

Your probably right. I don`t think he was a elite puncher but he could hurt you with either hand and he threw so many from so many angles. The guy knocked out everyone he fought practically. That speaks for itself. I don`t think he would have done that well at Welterweight in that era. That was too good of a time for the 147lbers.

 

A balance of both tactics,methinks. Ray would clown as a ploy to make Pryor lose concentration but would go toe to toe at regular intervals.


Leonard scores late tko.

 

Pryor was not a money fighter until he moved to 140 and fought Arguello.....Pryor was never even talked about as a real contender to the lightweight title he was not in line he was just another fighter in the pack.....alot of the opinion of Pryor is based on revisionism that seems to come from fans who bought into the Pryor theatrics and the marketing of his management team....Pryor tried to make himself relevant by being as loud as he could but he never fought his way to contention at 135 or 147 he thought he was deserving of a superfight because he was the 140 un-unified title holder....he had a few fights fall apart from his own refusal to accept what some thought he was worth as far as public outcry when he refused Duran and SRL fights...logic tells me he did not think he could win so to wreck his undefeated streak for less than a 7 figure paycheck was not worth it.....Pryor tried and god bless him but the cries of a conspiracy against Pryor never made any sense and watching his fights the rubber never met the road as all his opponents were either old or simply not good enough to make it in the bigger money weight classes at 135 or 147. IMO watch the 140 fights and look at the opponents and then watch the fights of the 147 top ten and 135 top ten their is an obvious IMO level of talent difference between the divisions....we must remember that 140 was not a prime weight class until top lighter fighters actually started to move up and win those titles, R Mayweather, Camacho, JCC etc....until then it was a no name division

 

Leonard was a full fledged welter from pretty early in his pro career. He was bigger, had a longer reach, was heavier, faster, stronger and hit harder than Pryor. I love Pryor but if he fought Leonard in 80 or so he would have been flat out stopped in about four rounds or so.

 

He'd beat him. Pryor was a very naturally skilled fighter, fast, exceptional stamina and killer instinct and a hell of a puncher. I just don't like him fighting Ray Leonard .