Why did we never seen Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Aaron Pryor?

Could this fight have been made? I know Pryor was a bit lighter, but he had the energy, power and style, I think to make up for it.

Thoughts?

 

Pryor turned down the fight..plus several others..though some would have you believe he was avoided.

Fact is he believed he was worth more than he actually was.

 

Cuz Ray suffered a detached retina and retired after kickin' ass on Bruce Finch in 1982. Ray was peaked in 1982 and at the height of his skills, but his eye was ****ed up.

Aaron Pryor was also peaked in 1982, but was only a solid 140 pounder. Pryor never looked good or proved **** at 147.

Anyway, had SRL never had a retina problem and remained an active champion in 1982 and 1983, I'm sure that match would've surfaced in the press.

Still, all in all, SRL parks Pryor in 1983 inside 6 rds for the TKO win... Pryor has heart, but his short height and reckless attack, plus cheesy defense is what gets him hammered by the bigger and better Ray.

MR.BILL:bbb

 

There just wasn't a right time and place for the fight to happen. Pryor turned down an initial offer from Leonard's camp and Leonard ignored Pryor's subsequent challenges in order to make bigger fights happen. When the contracts were about to be signed for a potential match-up between the two, Leonard suffered a detached retina and decided to retire, a decision Pryor applauded Leonard for. Pryor was never so much willing to fight Leonard, even stating that he along with Hearns had "out-grown" him, as he was to take Leonard's place as the star in boxing. He demanded respect but did not get it until beating Arguello, and succumbed to drugs afterwards.

 

Yeah, he had the same thing that Winky had, winkyitas, JMM has been a sufferer as well.

 

Dont know why this never happened... perhaps because Leonard was in a different class from Pryor... & I dont mean just weight class either.

Leonard by 13-15 rd TKO in a fight dominated by SRL from about the 3rd or 4th rd onwards.

 

Ray fought so many greats like Duran,Hearns and Benitez at the time, he did not need another one. He fought more greats than most guys do in a 2 years period. Fighting 4 would have been unheard of. And chances are had Ray beaten Pryor, maybe Pryor's legacy might not have been as great. As it is, Pryor had a very short career and is rated maybe higher than he should. His win over Arguello is great, but Alexis was moving up and was the naturally smaller guy at the time.

 

The age old problem of boxing politics.
Fighter A thinks he is worth more than he is. Fighter B wont budge because he knows he is worth way more than A.
Realistically if A and B decided to go at it they would both make a healthy sum but lets face it thats not the norm.

 

It was talked about and would have been a terrific bout ... Never sell Pryor short ... however at 147 Leonard was a god ..

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhPOzUorzOs#t=11m

 

Sounds about right. I think Pryor had more to gain financially here, and perhaps in a legacy sense Sugar Ray had more to lose.

I would not write Pyror off. He was extremely tough, hit hard, and was relentless in the ring. If Hagler went after Sugar Ray in the early rounds, the fight could have been different. While Pryor will be giving up some size, I think he would go after Sugar Ray. It would have been a great fight.

 

Pryor would dish out some heavy punishment,but Leonard would take it and knock Pryor out,at some stage. Better all round fighter.

 

Theres no doubting the fight would have been great. I think its close but i think Leonard is simply too tough and too good for Pryor. I think it could be close with Pryor taking some early rounds but the longer it goes the more Leonard starts to dictate what happens.

Imagen Leonards resume with Pryor on it.
Or does this just demote Pryors legacy.
:think

 

Actually these guys sparred several times prior to the 1975 Pan Am Games
in Mexico City (October 1975).

Also 3 times at the Pan Am Games training camp.

Ray Leonard won the 1975 Pan Am games at 139 lbs. (Light Welterweight)
Aaron Pryor was a Silver Medalist at 132 lbs. (losing to Canadian Chris Clarke in the final)

According to Clinton Jackson and Charles Walker, Pan An Games boxing team members
they fought 3 times (in 3-Round sparring sessions).

Aaron won the first sparring session, as he kept Ray pinned along the ropes.
And won all 3 rounds fairly easy.
Which amazed everyone in camp.

 

Different peaks at different weights. Pryor wasn't the guy he was at 140 when he moved up and Leonard is the greatest WW of recent times. Pryor would've been beaten soundly though it would've been an interesting fight while it lasts. I doubt it would last long. To also add to what others said, Pryor thought he was higher than his actually worth and Leonard had a time off because of a detatched retina. He then comes back and beats a faded but still capable Hagler....that guy was great. Fighters nowadays have nothing, NOTHING on SRL.