Why is Aaron Pryor so highly rated ?

then why did he turn him down?

He didnt turn down Lalonde

In fact, Lalonde wasnt even LOOKING to fight leonard and got the fight anyways along with 15 times the amount he offered Pryor!

I'm very suspicious of him. these comebacks of his and his opposition, especially when he talks about his eye the reason but comes back anyways?

then you mention the name Marvin Hagler or Aaron Pryor, and suddenly he's not interested anymore

You mention the name Micheal Nunn, he loses interest again

yet two months later, he's back in the ring with flabby, sloppy seconds Duran

You and your "prime Leonard"

if anyone's doing coke, go take a look in the mirror

 

what was he doing between Sept. 1981 and 1983?

a soft touch like Pryor who some here actually say would go in 5, Ray could easily squeeze him in and blow him out like an afterthought

If Pryor was really so easy for him, and why would he offer him 500K?

an easy fight like that the public swallowed, any smart fighter would ask for somewhere around 10 million since his worth had gone up following the Hearns fight

that's why I say his offer of 500K is completely bogus. He feared Pryor

 

I'm not blowing soke

and I'm wondering why the amount offered him is so low? it's really insulting to offer a champion just below you that kind of purse

It might look great back in 1975 but by 1981, purses for these kinds of champ vs champ matchups were multimillion dollar amount.

Ray was chicken ala king

 

Ray was dealing with his eye. he had to defend against Finch,and he really wanted to retire. I think Ray wanted a break. I am not saying it would be easy, but Ray would beat Pryor and stop him.

 

who was the written source? got a link?

 

I wouldnt hold it against anyone who said he is. but when you are challenged by a top fighter, you dont turn him down

ask Joe Frazier. he was advised not to fight Foreman for whatever reason, but said himself "I dont want to go down as someone who was known to turn down another man"

and the excuse that some here are using "Ray couldnt POSSIBLY have ducked Pryor. Prime Leonard KO 5 Pryor" really highlights the lack of mentality among certain ESB posters who cant bring themselves to face the truth

 

I think Ray needed a break. He was more sensitive than Hearns/Duran and Hagler and Benitez to tough fights. I think he was competitive, but very aware of punches. So, regardless of anything else. His break from boxing until Howard was meant to be. And really. he has one fight and says, that is it? Then he comes back again.. To me it was all an act. Orchestrated a little to catch guys vulnerable..

 

that's exactly the excuse I was waiting for! a little bit of everything

blend in a little bit of the eye injury with "Ray wanted a little break" and "Oh but Ray would have beat him anyways and even stopped him!"

that's SO convincing

to suckers that is!

 

I always Ray as an orchestrator. He learned from Duran to have everything set up and a gameplan,which is why that first fight was so important. Timing mental everything was important to Ray after June of 1980.. He was not going to fight the wrong fightplan again. And I think he was tired fighting Benitez, then Duran 2 times, Hearns and Kalule in there... top guys. Finch was knocked out but he hit him a little. The fact is, Ray wanted a break and maybe he did not want Pryor. But yeah I think Ray's power at 147 stops Pryor. The eye injury was significant since it got him to quit boxing. But I think he really wanted a break.

 

Wow, good one. The human brain is made up of about 100 billions neurons, I'm guessing you have about half that.

And here's a little something for your reading pleasure:

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/0...champion-Aaron-Pryor-is-on-the/8320494654400/

 

I dont know how true this story is but i knew a couple of people who were in Ray's camp and this is what was told to me:
They said that Ray and Pryor sparred a couple of times and the first time Pryor dropped Ray and Ray returned the favor latter in the same sparring session -they said Pryor got dropped with a body shot and i honestly dont remember what they said Pryor knockdown Leonard with.
They said after that that Pryor couldnt take Leonard's bodyshots and Ray beat up Pryor whenever they sparred.
I think they said this sparring took place in Pryors home town and that alot of people didnt care for Pryor and were happy Ray got the better of Pryor.
Like I said dont know how true it is but thats what i heard

 

Pryor did turn down a contract to fight Duran, fwiw.

 

I already told you. when a man is challenged, and refuses to accept, it means he fears that man

and when a paltry offer of 500 k is offered, it's his way of blowing him off, then saving face which confirms my suspicions

and even more, Leonard has a history of ducking others; from Pryor to Hagler to Nunn. Look how long it took him just to give Hearns a rematch

and of course, only after life and death struggles with Roldan and Kinchen, following a knockout loss to Barkley

Just wondering, if Pryor gets 500 K, how much does Leonard get?

I really find it hard to believe that ESB posters arent any smarter than this and keep swallowing any little excuse they hear

 

I know you are not too bright, but here goes......

In 1980 Leonard was busy fighting Duran twice.

In 1981, he won a version of the 154 lb. title than immediately fought Hearns in a 147 unification match.

The Duran and Hearns fights were much more in public demand and commanded Leonard much more $$$ than a Leonard/Pryor fight.

Moving up to get a 154 lb. title was important for his legacy. At that time, fighters who won titles in more than one weight division were rare.

In that time period, Pryor had exactly 0 fights above the junior welterweight division.

Then, in 1982 Leonard retired with the detached retina.

Nobody was writing stories with the headline "Is Leonard Ducking Aaron Pryor?"

There were plenty on the significance of Leonard/Duran and Leonard/Hearns though.

And if Leonard hadn't retired, the fight most wanted to see was Hagler/Leonard.

If Leonard ducked anyone, it was Hagler. But, that's arguable because the detached retina was a real concern.

 

Didn't happen anyways.