This is the next in my blog series ‘Mythical Matchups’. The bout is between Roberto Duran and Aaron Pryor at 147 lbs. My imaginary bouts all take place at Caesar’s Palace Outdoor Arena, with the great Mills Lane as the referee.
Roberto Duran was born in Panama in 1951, and had a rough and tough beginning to life. He turned pro at 16 years old in 1968, and quickly moved up the lightweight rankings. He won his first world title in June of 1972 over Ken Buchanan at Madison Square Garden. After defending his championship for years, he moved up to welterweight in 1979, and challenged Sugar Ray Leonard for the title on June 20, 1980 in Montreal, Canada. Duran roughed up and bruised Leonard enroute to a brutal 15 round unanimous decision. Duran shocked the world when he quit in their rematch of November 25, 1980, and it took a few years for the public to embrace him again. In June of 1983, he knocked out Davey Moore at the Garden in New York City to capture the WBA Junior Middleweight crown, and was back in good graces with the the public.
Never afraid to challenge anyone, he took on middleweight king Marvin Hagler that November, but lost a decision. After getting knocked out cold by Thomas Hearns in two rounds on June 15, 1984, Duran had to regroup again. Amazingly, in February of 1989, Roberto won his fourth belt in four different weight classes by shocking Iran Barkley, and taking his title. ‘Hands of Stone’ lost his third bout with Sugar Ray Leonard in December of 1989, and didn’t win a single round. Despite the fact that he fought until he was 50, and never held a world title again.
At his best, Duran was vicious and mean in the ring, and had no regard for the rules. If it meant low blows, he’d hit you low, and did whatever it took to win. He also could punch, had a great chin, and was never afraid to face anyone.
Aaron Pryor was born in Cincinnati in 1955, and enjoyed a tremendous amateur career before turning professional in November of 1976. ‘The Hawk’ won his first title on August 2, 1980 by knocking out Antonio Cervantes in four rounds before a hometown Ohio crowd. He would defend his title until his retirement in 1985, and is one of the greatest junior lightweights in history.
Pryor was a whirlwind of a fighter with quickness, stamina and ring smarts. He’s a good a fighter as I’ve ever seen, and only a drug abuse problem caused his early demise, cutting short his career.
In a fight between both men in their prime, I see Pryor boxing and using angles to frustrate an ever charging Duran. Aaron would land jabs and right hands, move and confuse Duran like Ray Leonard did. After 12 entertaining rounds, Mills Lane raises Pryor’s hand in victory. Pryor by unanimous decision.
Sadly, Aaron died in 2016 from heart disease and is a member of the IBHOF. Duran stuck around way too long, but is in the Hall of Fame as well. If the two greats had actually men in the ring, no one would have been disappointed to see it, that’s for certain.
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