Why is Aaron Pryor so highly rated ?

Wrong guy here, i think he's somewhat overrated.

 

I think he is one of the best 140lbers in history. Not a marquee division. Pryor was a 135lbr in reality who was feared by the Lightweight belt holders.

Aaron Pryor is one of the greatest fighters I have ever seen. He could do everything in the ring. The most important thing was that he was a pure street dog in his mentality. Like an American version of Duran.

A non stop punching machine who brought up shots from seemingly impossible angles. Knock him Down? Sure then he gets up and chases you around the ring. His most famous fight is one of the greatest in history against another Legend. You can't unsee that fight.

I tend to judge a boxer on how they were at their best. He didn't last as long as he should of. He was an extreme example of addiction and how fast things slip away.

I would ask anyone looking at Aaron Pryor at his peak ( what was he lacking as a boxer?) ( What were his weaknesses in the ring?) Not too many.

If your rating fighters soley on paper then he drops because he basically walked into a crack house take the peak of his powers and never came out.

There is different ways of judging a fighters greatness. They eye test tells me he wasn't normal, not just another good fighter. He was a special talent.

He was also my friend once and I'm definitely biased on this subject.

 

A true alltime great. Aaron could fight with anyone.

 

It's reasonable to have some doubt. That is Pryor's fault for undercutting his career. I dont see him beating Ray Leonard.Arguello was an exceptional fighter even at 140. He was still fighting well and was on a roll going for that 4th title. ETM could still crack with anyone. I think the way Pryor switched tactics mid fight and boxed him shows a level of greatness.

 

it is probably true, his lofty position has a lot to do with Arguello and fighting the fight he fought and prevailing. His potential looked limitless and he had speed and heart and everything else. That Arguello fight showed a lot about him. But a little overrated as far as great wins.

 

Cervantes was an old lion too when Pryor got him but Aaron desroyed him in 3. The Way he took out Kid Pambele suggested he was a real force. Not too many 135lbers would have done it so neatly.

I do concede the point though that strictly names he doesn't have depth of a top the all time great.

 

The eye test. Dominating run at jww. Decisive victories against a top 30 atg.

 

Agree with this. Even though Arguello was 30 and probably at his ceiling in terms of weight, he'd have beaten all but a very small number of light-welterweights the night he fought Pryor in 1982.

 

His win (wins) over Arguello are better than any win that Wlad, GGG, Lomo, Canelo, Fury and many others ever had.

 

Exactly how I see it. I see people think he's the favorite over fighters like Duran, and think he could've beat SRL among others. I don't see it, and don't see him doing as well as some others on here against the best. Very good fighter, but an overrated one imo.

 

I think he’s another guy like Dempsey whose talent far outweighs the resume. Pryor looks great on film, but he never tested himself against any of Benitez, Leonard, Hearns, or Duran

Was he a special fighter? Maybe he passes the eye test....however he didn’t accomplish enough. I loved his style though.

 

I think he'd have busted up JC Chavez at 140, and I like JC.

 

Because he was great! Speed, stamina, power, chin, great recupperitive powers, ring smarts, ans even more ring smarts! He was a freakin machine in the ring