Was he the most feared boxer of all-times?

Question

Aaron "The Hawk" Pryor. Looking back on his career in the 1980's, there were a number of Hall of Fame boxers who in and around his weight class that never fought him. Roberto Duran, Thomas Hearns, Livingstone Bramble, Hector Camacho and even Sugar Ray Leonard etc. Why was it that the only one of note that did step into the ring with him was Alexis Arguello. Were these Champs scared of " Hawk Time"? Your thoughts?

Answer 1

It was pretty obvious Sugar Ray Leonard wasn't too comfortable with the thought of stepping into the ring with Aaron. Bramble and Camacho would have lost to Pryor, and they didn't need Aaron they had easier fights available, so it's not a stretch to see that they ducked him as well. I doubt Duran ever feared anyone, so I got not answer as to why they never met, I figure there was more money for Roberto at higher weights and he just out grew Pryor. Thomas Hearns was the only one of era that most likely would have given Pryor a real beating. Pryor's pressure style was made to order for the big right hand Hearns had, and I don't care how good a chin Pryor had, he was a foot shorter than Tommy who would have been punching down with leverage. It would have been a rough night for Aaron in that one.

The fear factor was greatest with Leonard and Camacho. Bramble was questionable, and Duran & Hearns were a bit too heavy to make the match up. Great question, yeah Aaron was definately not high on any of their lists of potential opponents.

Answer 2

Aaron Pryor was a great fighter that threw punches from any angle and could also take a good shot too. As Brent said he fought and beat Thomas Hearns in the amateurs and Leonard never seemed to be interested in fighting him although it would have been quite a marquee matchup along with Roberto Duran and Hector Camacho. At one time there was talk of him fighting Boom Boom Mancini too. Pryor was really a fearless fighter and his first fight with Alexis Arguello is a classic. Yes I would say you are pretty accurate about "The Hawk" being a feared fighter.

Answer 3

I think Pryor was a good fighter, but he's mostly remembered for the first Pryor/Arguello fight. (The "Infamous water bottle.") And it's true Leonard moved up in weightclass to avoid him. He would've KILLED Bramble and Camacho, but Hearns and Duran might have put him asleep.(Ko) As far as Leonard, I think that would have been a three fight deal with Suger Ray winning two. (Hey he was the "Golden boy" of the 80's.) But think the most avoided was probably Larry Holmes. Holmes destroyed everybody, and the only person to beat him was a Lightheavy weight. Michael Spinks. (And that first fight could be questioned...)

Answer 4

I would say the boxers who were the most feared are the biggest punchers and for that reason i would say the most feared fighters in certain periods of time were George Foreman, Sonny Liston, Jack Johnson and Mike Tyson. I think Aaron Pryor was feared by one fighter and that was Leonard and that was because he had skills and he could bang. I think Hearns would of destroyed Pryor. Styles make fights and i think Hearns is a bad match up for Pryor but Leonard was a good one for him.
No point quoting that amateur fight to me either,(the pro game and the amateur game are worlds apart and we all know this) Hearns looked like a stick in that fight a few years on in their careers Hearns had freakish punching power. Pryor had a punch on him but nothing like the hitman.

Answer 5

I am a boxing fan and honestly I know very little about Aaron Pryor. I would say hands down though Mike Tyson was the most feared fighter of all times. He mentally won most fights before even stepping into the ring. I know that his opponents could have lasted more than a few seconds if they were not scared stiff when the opening bell sounded.

Answer 6

This really comes down to reward over risk and not simple fear. These fighters were starting to see mega money fights, only before seen in the heavyweight class. And had to make as much as they could in a short period of time.
Aaron Pryor was like rocky in the since that he wasn't a household name, hungry, could punch, which made him very dangerous.So none of those guys was going risk everything for little or nothing.
And in turn most if not all went on to make millions battling each other and becoming legends in boxing.While Pryor fell prey to drugs and demons.So in the end maybe it was him who was afraid to be great? And now will never really know.

Answer 7

During that period of boxing I would say he was the most feared or maybe the most dangerous is more accurate. A little info for you; Pryor beat Tommy Hearns to win the National Golden Gloves in 1976, and beat him pretty convincingly. It was known that Pryor would woof about fighting Leonard to anybody who would listen. Leonard when approached about the subject would shrug it off and really not address it. I think one of factors that might have contributed to him not fighting these men was that he started using drugs shortly after, or during, his two fight series against Arguello. His career was really over because of drug abuse after 1985- 1986.

Answer 8

Mike Tyson

Answer 9

I think all of the men who failed to fight him were not scared. I think they just had to pass on the opportunity because there were more bigger fights than him. The 80's is the era where there were tons of talent in the middle divisions. Pryor, just happenned to be in one of those divisions. True, some fighters may have passed on him, that's because they didn't want to risk losing a bigger fight if they lost to Pryor. I think it was mainlt because of boxing business and politics.

Answer 10

Aaron Pryor because poeple were leaving the weight class so they wouldnt have ot fight ihm. But I would say Mike Tyson in his prime before the lose that showed he wasnt unbeatable.