Aaron Pryor vs. Roberto Duran

[Luigi1985]

Who wins at 140 lbs and why?

[Lefty Supremacy]

Duran is all kinds of wrong for Pryor.

[istmeno]

pryor gets the brakes beaten off of him. pryor was a good fighter, but gets seriously overrated. his best wins were against a way out of his weight class arguello, and a way beyond his prime pambele.
arguello gave pryor all he could handle in the first fight, and as much as i love alexis, he was no duran. nobody who catches punches like pryor did ever beats duran.

[brooklyn1550]

Roberto Duran by unanimous decision

I think he was a better all around fighter. This would have been a war.

[Fedor Em]

Pressure fighters with not so great defense like Pryor get whooped by Duran. Roberto wins this off better inside fighting, and superior defense. 10-5 or something like that at 140. Pryor was a beast but Duran would have beaten him. The only pressure fighter I would give a chance at beating Duran at 140 would be Armstrong. It takes an extremely slick fighter ala Whitaker, or Benitez to be Duran at these weights.

[brownpimp88]

Pryor is overrated in mythical matchups, but so is duran. Alexis arguello started at featherweight, but he was clearly way too big for that weightclass, so he eventually grew out of it. By the way, pryor is a natural lightweight and he's one of those fighters that wouldnt be intimidated by duran. I would give pryor a 50/50 shot at beating him head to head.

[Mankind]

Pryor is overrated in mythical matchups, but so is duran. Alexis arguello started at featherweight, but he was clearly way too big for that weightclass, so he eventually grew out of it. By the way, pryor is a natural lightweight and he's one of those fighters that wouldnt be intimidated by duran. I would give pryor a 50/50 shot at beating him head to head.


great point about the fact Pryor was a natural lightweight.

Pryor brought more fireworks and thunder than guys like esteban Dejesus......a fight at 135 between these two....WOW!

[George W Hedge]

Duran beats pryor on pts

Why ?

He has got a better defence, better variety of punches & probably hits harder & is no less tough.

Too many tools but pryor lasts the distance, he was also as tough as nails.

:good

[JohnThomas1]

Duran's pressure and Pryor's leaky defense leads to a Duran stoppage. Duran is the sort of fighter who can and will make Aaron pay for his fundamental errors. Guys like Duran and SRL are nightmare for Pryor, really. Duran would possibly be the worst guy at 140 i could ever think of for Pryor. Chavez would be tough but Duran would be impossible.

[PowerPuncher]

This would be a close call. Its going the full 15 in a true backburner. Duran had the defense, timing, skill while Pryor had the better speed. Both had great stamina and workrate. I think Duran edges it out 9-6

[Holmes' Jab]

Duran outworks "The Hawk", to take a clear UD.

[Amsterdam]

Roberto Duran by unanimous decision

I think he was a better all around fighter. This would have been a war.

Yes it would have. It would have been a fight for the ages.

I pick Duran, but counting Pryor out is not very smart, he's a live one.

[Executioner]

Duran, he's simply the better all around fighter

[Sweet Science]

I rate Duran as the greatest Lightweight ever. But I would have to go with Pryor on this one. Too much non stop pressure and plenty of speed would begin to get unsettling for Duran as the fight wore on. Both fighters were crazy, and the unrelenting pace of a constant all out war would suit Pryor's manic style & workrate a little better.

[Duodenum]

At their peaks, both seemed impervious, upstairs, downstairs, in resistance to sustaining facial damage, and in terms of endurance.

Where the Hawk and El Cholo differ is in defense, bodypunching, center of gravity, and countering skill. Roberto would be under and inside Aaron's attack with his quicker and shorter punches. Duran could also come over the top every well, against a frequently upright adversary.
Pryor can pitch over a hundred punches per round for the full 15, but with his high chin, wide open body, and headhunting fixation, this would come down to hitting without being hit, and counterpunching, as well as balance.

Pryor was not in the habit of shooting for a stoppage win, frequently a make or break proposition. In contrast, Duran was capable of deciding to aim for a scorecard win early enough to carry it off. He had the great Ken Buchanan beat on the scorecards as round 13 ended, secured the decision early in Montreal, and outpointed several fine opponents in nontitle affairs.

It would be exciting to watch, but a clear cut UD for Duran when over. He could well boost his points margin by catching Hawk for a couple of flash KD's as well.

The Hawk could use his legs for elusive movement very well when he wished to, and that would be his best opportunity to gain the favor of the judging, but with his characteristic approach, I doubt he would consider that strategy against a foe of Duran's makeup.

[zivic1941]

Duran would win, but Panama Lewis would not allow this fight to happen.

[Black Eyes To You]

When did Duran turn into this great defensive fighter at 140? 50/50. Pryor hit way harder than Duran. It would be a bloody ugly fight going to a prime and much ducked Aaron Pryor. 8-7 UD

[buzzsaw]

Duran was a better all around boxer/fighter then Pryor.

[Mantequilla]

When did Duran turn into this great defensive fighter at 140? 50/50. Pryor hit way harder than Duran. It would be a bloody ugly fight going to a prime and much ducked Aaron Pryor. 8-7 UD

Duran by the mid seventies was one of the best defensive fighters of all-time.

Of course he would have great defence(regardless of weight) if you are taking the prime version and putting him against Pryor.

[Bummy Davis]

I like Duran by a late stop or UD but Pryor would be agressive and get caught and hit the deck, Aaron was a great fighter but Duran was the man

[GazOC]

When did Duran turn into this great defensive fighter at 140? 50/50. Pryor hit way harder than Duran. It would be a bloody ugly fight going to a prime and much ducked Aaron Pryor. 8-7 UD

So who ducked Pryor? Pryors career, as impressive as it would be by most fighters standards, is still too full of 'ifs' and 'may bes' if he's to be regarded as an ATG.

[Robbi]

Duran's pressure and Pryor's leaky defense leads to a Duran stoppage. Duran is the sort of fighter who can and will make Aaron pay for his fundamental errors. Guys like Duran and SRL are nightmare for Pryor, really. Duran would possibly be the worst guy at 140 i could ever think of for Pryor. Chavez would be tough but Duran would be impossible.

Pryor's chin would be tested like never before. Arguello fought a great battle with Pryor, but he never had the same power at the higher weight. Duran without question hits harder.

Arguello was a technician who liked to fight at his own pace, thats when he was able to dictate the tempo and dominate. Pryor's ruthless swarming style and unorthodox moves made life hell for the precise punching Arguello.

Duran has the ability to slip Pryor's jab, and get inside. He's much more fluidly loose in a technical sense than someone like Arguello, who was more of a blocker than a slipper. Closing the distance quickly was another strong part of Duran's game, and he'd need to do so against Pryor to dominate him. I'm not saying Pryor would outbox Duran. But Duran would be best served getting close and not allowing Pryor to breathe.

I continued to make the comparison with the Arguello fight as thats the kind of fight it would be, an exciting high paced battle with a busy punch output from both fighters.

[JohnThomas1]

So who ducked Pryor? Pryors career, as impressive as it would be by most fighters standards, is still too full of 'ifs' and 'may bes' if he's to be regarded as an ATG.

He was supposedly ducked pre 140 pound days and moved up a division because of it. He certainly wasn't ducked by Leonard.

[MRBILL]

Duran falls behind early but catches up to Pryor later and knocks him out at 140....... Duran too seasoned....... Peace.......

MR.BILL

[Thread Stealer]

He was supposedly ducked pre 140 pound days and moved up a division because of it. He certainly wasn't ducked by Leonard.

Yeah, if Pryor was avoided, it was at lightweight. I'm not too clear on the exact particulars of what happened there.

His personal/managerial issues prevented a unification bout with Mamby, a bout with Duran @ 150, and he or his team made the decision to turn down the Leonard fight.

I'd pick Duran to beat Pryor in a very exciting fight. More polished and a better fighter.

[laxpdx]

Pryor with his intense pressure and workrate pushes Duran to the limit. Duran, being a pressure fighter himself, ensures this one will be a a hard-fought one in close quarters.
However, the tiebreaker goes to Duran's edge in defensive abilities. After going full speed for 15 rounds, Duran edges it on points.

[itrymariti]

Duran wins widely.

[duranimal]

Intence meltdown head 2 head pressure but the man with the better defence & thats Duran who will subtly systematicly smash Pryor up just like Chavez did against Taylor who was unloading at a 3/1 ratio but what he took back from Chavez had him already damaged by the 6th & Duran's going to dish out the same & take less. Pryor could be beaten to a standstill late on as i'd doubt he'd take a backward step.

[mcvey]

Who wins at 140 lbs and why?

With or without the black bottle?
Duran by dec, better defence.

[DonBoxer]

Duran beats him down , slowly.

[Titan1]

Duran can win, maybe, if he's in the best shape of his life.If not, Pryor makes hell for him, and scores an upset decision win.

[left right left]

Aaron Pryor. Too tough (not saying he;s tougher than Duran...saying he has the chin, heart), too fast, two fisted.

[Stevie G]

Pryor would have been a very tough opponent for Roberto. Duran would have won,ultimately as he was equally aggressive as Aaron,and a lot more skillful.

[MAG1965]

The only way Pryor would win is if he used speed and used it to not get into a war with Duran. If he fought the same way he fought Arguello he would lose to Duran, but if he used his speed and gave Duran angles he would beat Duran by decision like Benitez and Leonard did.

[itrymariti]

Yeah, because Duran was completely unqualified to deal with speed and angles wasn't he now?

Of course he was you silly cunt.

[frankenfrank]

Who did Pryor ever beat ? his only telling fight outcome is his stoppage loss to Bobby Joe Young. Of course Duran wins.
Pryor is not a top 10 at 140. Ricky Hatton is way more proven than him.

[TBomb 25]

Pryor's chin would be tested like never before. Arguello fought a great battle with Pryor, but he never had the same power at the higher weight. Duran without question hits harder.

Arguello was a technician who liked to fight at his own pace, thats when he was able to dictate the tempo and dominate. Pryor's ruthless swarming style and unorthodox moves made life hell for the precise punching Arguello.

Duran has the ability to slip Pryor's jab, and get inside. He's much more fluidly loose in a technical sense than someone like Arguello, who was more of a blocker than a slipper. Closing the distance quickly was another strong part of Duran's game, and he'd need to do so against Pryor to dominate him. I'm not saying Pryor would outbox Duran. But Duran would be best served getting close and not allowing Pryor to breathe.

I continued to make the comparison with the Arguello fight as thats the kind of fight it would be, an exciting high paced battle with a busy punch output from both fighters.Your out of your mind,at no point did Duran ever hit as hard as Arguello,Alexis hit harder at featherweight than Duran ever has at any weight,funny how Duran ducked Alexis at lightweight,he would have been stopped long before Hearns scalped him,the overratedness on this guy is madness,the Hawk would put a whuppin on him.Dont be supprised if Duran quit,the guy wasnt all that couragous when he didnt have a advantage,Pryor by late stopage not to mention Pryor was much more in shape and conditioned than Duran he could'nt stay away from the dinner table and partied his ass off,Roberto is the most overhyped fighter on these forums.

[TBomb 25]

Who did Pryor ever beat ? his only telling fight outcome is his stoppage loss to Bobby Joe Young. Of course Duran wins.
Pryor is not a top 10 at 140. Ricky Hatton is way more proven than him.Pryor would beat the living fuck out of Hatton,it would be his worst beatdown ever.:rofl

[Waynegrade]

I like Duran in all action action great fight... Duran dug to the body a little better, heavier hands, greater ring generalship. Duran I think could actually outwork Pryor. He did everything just a little bit better than the Hawk...

[TBomb 25]

I like Duran in all action action great fight... Duran dug to the body a little better, heavier hands, greater ring generalship. Duran I think could actually outwork Pryor. He did everything just a little bit better than the Hawk...True Duran was more skilled defensively,but he didnt hit as hard,the no mas thing showed that he would quit in a fight and this would have been a war,and the Chin Pryor took Alex's bombs and big righthands,Duran got folded up like a lawnchair against Hearns,Pryor took punches from the most devastating puncher in history under 140 i've never seen a man take those kind of shots not even on Rocky,Duran would not have taken those shots from Arguello like that,and Pryor had more power and he would keep the pressure up,Duran would be in for long night.

[Waynegrade]

True Duran was more skilled defensively,but he didnt hit as hard,the no mas thing showed that he would quit in a fight and this would have been a war,and the Chin Pryor took Alex's bombs and big righthands,Duran got folded up like a lawnchair against Hearns,Pryor took punches from the most devastating puncher in history under 140 i've never seen a man take those kind of shots not even on Rocky,Duran would not have taken those shots from Arguello like that,and Pryor had more power and he would keep the pressure up,Duran would be in for long night.
Good points... I loved the Hawk, it`s a tough fight to call, rematch anyone?

[Hatesrats]

With the "Plaster of Paris" & Black bottle mixture, Pryor beats them all.
Ask Alexis..

[JohnThomas1]

True Duran was more skilled defensively,but he didnt hit as hard,the no mas thing showed that he would quit in a fight and this would have been a war,and the Chin Pryor took Alex's bombs and big righthands,Duran got folded up like a lawnchair against Hearns,Pryor took punches from the most devastating puncher in history under 140 i've never seen a man take those kind of shots not even on Rocky,Duran would not have taken those shots from Arguello like that,and Pryor had more power and he would keep the pressure up,Duran would be in for long night.

Duran didn't hit as hard as Pryor? You are kidding. Pryor was an average but solid ipuncher for power.

Taking sporadic (even if heavy) punishment off Arguello would be worlds away from facing Duran relentless pressure and draining body attack. Pryor mixed it up vs Arguello and rested when he wanted to as he mostly outboxed Arguello from the outside. I severely doubt he'd outbox Duran.

[TBomb 25]

Duran didn't hit as hard as Pryor? You are kidding. Pryor was an average but solid ipuncher for power.

Taking sporadic (even if heavy) punishment off Arguello would be worlds away from facing Duran relentless pressure and draining body attack. Pryor mixed it up vs Arguello and rested when he wanted to as he mostly outboxed Arguello from the outside. I severely doubt he'd outbox Duran.So i know your not saying Duran was a better outside boxer than Alexis,you must be mad,and when was the last time Duran really hit hard? i think that was at lightweight.Duran did not hit as hard as Aaron and no where near Alexis and he didnt box as good as Arguello and he could have done what Pryor did against Arguello,get off of the fairytales please.......:nono

[WhataRock]

So i know your not saying Duran was a better outside boxer than Alexis,you must be mad,and when was the last time Duran really hit hard? i think that was at lightweight.Duran did not hit as hard as Aaron and no where near Alexis and he didnt box as good as Arguello and he could have done what Pryor did against Arguello,get off of the fairytales please.......:nono

So are you saying 5 pounds some how magically zaps all of Duran's power?

Even though he knocked out a variety of fighters when weighting at 140 for his non-title bouts in between his reign at lightweight...Even though he dropped Palomino and badly rocked Leonard at welter..Even though he viciously bashed fighters like Moore and Cuves at 154...and dropped dudes at middle.

I think you are the one off with the pixies of bubblegum forrest my friend...Duran did everything as good and usually better than both of those guys.

[PowerPuncher]

The 1 thing Pryor has on Duran is stamina and workrate imo, if he can push Duran back and make Duran uncomfortable he has a shot. Duran is by far the better boxer, puncher, with better defense and technique. Sometimes presure negates all those things though

[TBomb 25]

So are you saying 5 pounds some how magically zaps all of Duran's power?

Even though he knocked out a variety of fighters when weighting at 140 for his non-title bouts in between his reign at lightweight...Even though he dropped Palomino and badly rocked Leonard at welter..Even though he viciously bashed fighters like Moore and Cuves at 154...and dropped dudes at middle.

I think you are the one off with the pixies of bubblegum forrest my friend...Duran did everything as good and usually better than both of those guys.Dont even bring up Moore a fighter that what had 8 fights that was as green as the grass in the amazon and a washed up punch drunk Cuevas who was ruined by Hearns,a guy who would have mauled Duran before the Hearns fight thats why that didnt happen before then.Its starting to seem like Duran really picked his battles,no Pryor,no Arguello,and a totally shot Cuevas,and the 1s he totally chose wrong like he thought Benitez didnt have enough to box his eyes out,and then the Hearns coma and of course the No Mas along with the fairytale that some idiots on here claiming he beat Hagler.The bottom line Pryor rose to the occasion for his huge wins,outside of the 1st Ray Leonard fight Duran didnt,and people always talk about his lightweight reign like anyone on there was as good as Leonard,Hearns,Hagler,and Benitez get the fuck real Buchannan was very good,but no where near that good,after lightweight his career is vastly overrated with a bunch of loses who gives a fuck about a meaningless win over Davey Moore a very green young fighter and a shot to hell Cuevas that he could have fought for the WBA crown years earlier,Aaron or Alexis would punish him thats why he never took those fights in the 1st place.:nono:-(

[Godfather]

Duran tames him and wins a clear decision. Duran may even stop him.

[JohnThomas1]

The 1 thing Pryor has on Duran is stamina and workrate imo, if he can push Duran back and make Duran uncomfortable he has a shot. Duran is by far the better boxer, puncher, with better defense and technique. Sometimes presure negates all those things though

Have a look at Duran's stamina in SRL I and Buchanan to name two. Also look at how he could finish people in the championship rounds. On top of this Duran is going to raid Pryor's stamina reserves heavily via a sustained body attack. The same will not be true. Tho hectic the Pryor - Arguello war featured Aaron fighting at the pace he wanted more times than not. This would not happen vs Duran.

[JohnThomas1]

So i know your not saying Duran was a better outside boxer than Alexis,you must be mad,

Yeah, because Alexis controlled the outside exchanges vs Pryor right? Just because Duran didn't aim to fight much on the outside does not mean he would have even less success than Arguello did. Rest assured tho he is going to be forcing his way inside on a very consistent basis.

Arguello was a bit static in his outside attack until he gathered the info he wanted then ramped it up. Against Pryor's very herky jerky unorthodox style that information never really came thru. Duran adapts far faster, , is more instinctive, takes more risks and fights at a much more hectic pace than Alexis. He is going to dominate the inside exchanges overall. When Pryor slugs Duran will be countering heavily and landing the heavier more precise blows. On the outside Duran will be holding his own as he finds his way in imo.

and when was the last time Duran really hit hard?

Duran was beating down JM champs and dropping bonafide middleweight champs when he was near grey for goodness sakes. He heavily staggered SRL who had a fine chin and was much the bigger man. Pryor wasn't an overly big hitter in his own division let alone proving himself above it vs big strong champs.

Duran did not hit as hard as Aaron and no where near Alexis and he didnt box as good as Arguello and he could have done what Pryor did against Arguello,get off of the fairytales please.......:nono

I love Alexis but Duran would have ripped him a new asshole ffs. Duran even more so than Pryor would be his stylistic devil. Duran would also be an absolute stylistic nightmare for Pryor. His loose technique and basics would be pounced upon by Duran and he wouldn't hold the size and strength advantages to get by. Alexis was a long long way from home (peak weight and year) when Pryor got him.

Duran holds all the trumps here, including power. He's far more proven on all fronts and Pryor's no puzzle for him.

[JohnThomas1]

Dont even bring up Moore a fighter that what had 8 fights that was as green as the grass in the amazon and a washed up punch drunk Cuevas who was ruined by Hearns,a guy who would have mauled Duran before the Hearns fight thats why that didnt happen before then.

Tough crowd. But of course Pryor is the 140 answer to Earnie Shavers with his stoppage of 300yo Cervantes, a collection of no name opponents and an old way up in the weights Arguello, and even then we have the black bottle mystery. I know who's more proven.

Hmmm, and Cuevas pre Hearns would have mauled the Duran who beat SRL and Palomino? :lol:

Its starting to seem like Duran really picked his battles,no Pryor,no Arguello,and a totally shot Cuevas,Yeah, fighting SRL instead of Cuevas was just criminal :lol:

And how dare he miss Pryor, who had 12 fights total at the time Duran moved above 140 and never came back :lol:

And Arguello, who incidently only just moved up to 130 (let alone 135) as Duran moved to 147.

along with the fairytale that some idiots on here claiming he beat Hagler.Goodness, we finally agree :D

The bottom line Pryor rose to the occasion for his huge wins,outside of the 1st Ray Leonard fight Duran didntOh for sure, Duran didn't rise at all as 50-1 on favourite vs Moore and Barkley. Pryor was awesome in his huge win vs Cervantes, knocking him a clean 4 feet away from his rocking chair. He also rose VERY high against Alexis, trouble is some say it was chemical induced :smoke

after lightweight his career is vastly overrated with a bunch of loses who gives a fuck about a meaningless win over Davey Moore a very green young fighter and a shot to hell Cuevas that he could have fought for the WBA crown years earlierIs it just co-incidence you keep avoiding the Barkley fight?

Aaron or Alexis would punish him thats why he never took those fights in the 1st place.I told you above why Duran didn't take those two fights. If he did you'd be crying he missed Palomino or something near as bizarre. At one time Arguello was rumoured to be moving up to go at Durans 135 title. I have a picture of Duran holding up a pic of Arguello in fighting pose, fist clenched in front of the picture and all complete with a maniacal scowl :lol: