Aaron Pryor
Encyclopedia
Aaron Pryor is a former boxer
from Cincinnati, Ohio
, and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
. He is the former world Junior Welterweight champion, and regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the weight class.
, and participated in the 1976 Summer Olympics
in Montreal
as an alternate. In 1972 he was the National AAU Champion at 132 lb, having outpointed Robert Newton
of Boston. He beat future great Thomas Hearns
in the finals of the 1976 National Golden Gloves.
. In 1977, Pryor fought eight fights, winning all but two by knockout
. The only two fighters who heard the final bell versus Pryor that year were Johnny Summerhayes and Jose Resto. After the fight with Summerhayes, Pryor won 26 fights in a row by knockout, in one of the longest knockout streaks in the history of boxing
.
In 1978, Pryor won five fights, and in 1979 he won six. However, during 1979, Pryor experienced a rise in competition level, and in his last fight that year, he was pitted for the first time ever against a former or future world champion, when he faced former Junior Welterweight champion of the world Alfonso Fraser, Peppermint, of Panama
, who lasted five rounds with The Hawk. After that fight, Pryor entered the WBA
rankings.
He only kept on going up in the rankings for the first part of 1980. He beat Julio Valdez
, Leonidas Asprilla and Carl Crowley before a world title bout was set up by the WBA, versus two time world champion Antonio Cervantes
of Colombia
at Cincinnati. Pryor was dropped in round one, but he rose and knocked out Cervantes in round four in front of a national television audience, becoming a world champion. He finished the year knocking out Gaetan Hart
to retain his title.
1981 brought Pryor up to the ring against Lennox Blackmore and Dujuan Johnson. Pryor beat Blackmore in two rounds, but had to work more against Johnson, once again visiting the floor in round one before winning by knockout in six.
In 1982 he defeated fringe contender Miguel Montilla by a knockout in 12 to begin the year, then put his title on the line versus Akio Kameda. Once again, Pryor went to the floor in round one but got up to knock the Japanese challenger out in round six.
nicknamed The Battle of The Champions
, Pryor defeated Alexis Argüello
by a technical knockout in 14 in front of an HBO
audience. The fight was named Fight of the Year and later the Fight of the Decade by The Ring
.
The fight sparked controversy however, because Pryor's trainer, Panama Lewis
, introduced a second water bottle which he described as "the bottle I mixed" after round 13, leading to speculation that the bottle was tainted. The Florida State Boxing Commission failed to administer a post-fight urine test, adding to speculation that the bottle contained an unsanctioned substance. Pryor and Arguello met after the fight and Arguello asked Pryor if there was a substance in the bottle. Pryor told Arguello there wasn't anything in the bottle that gave him an advantage.
Panama Lewis later revealed on several occasions that the mixture was merely "tap water mixed with Perrier water. Thats all." In a 2009 documentary, former Lewis-trained boxer Luis Resto
revealed that Panama Lewis would also break apart antihistamine
pills and pour the medicine into his water, giving him greater lung capacity in the later rounds of a fight. This revelation fueled further speculation as to whether Lewis had added an unsanctioned substance to Pryor's water in his bout with Arguello.
In Pryor-Arguello 2, there was no mixed bottle and Pryor still savagely beat Arguello particularly in the later rounds.
In 1983, after defending his crown against former WBC
world champion Sang-Hyun Kim
(KO 3), Pryor beat Arguello again, this time by a knockout in 10 rounds.
Pryor took back his decision of retiring soon after, however, and the IBF
immediately recognized him as their world champion. 1984 proved to be a frustrating year for Pryor. His proposed fight with world Lightweight champion Ray Mancini
fell through when Mancini lost his title against Livingstone Bramble
, and Pryor was able to defend his IBF world title only once, against Nick Furlano, who became the first guy in 27 fights to last the distance with Pryor, losing to Pryor on points in 15 rounds in Canada.
In 1985, Pryor would only fight once, retaining his title versus future world champion Gary Hinton
in 15 rounds, again by points.
, a fringe contender of the era.
In 1988 and 1989, he attempted another comeback, winning three fights, all by knockout, against lower opposition.
In 1996, Pryor was elected to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
.
He retired with 39 wins, 1 loss and 35 wins by knockout.
amateur boxers. The Pryor boxing legacy continues today with Aaron, Jr. and Stephan following in their dad's footsteps.
. Former Jets Coach Eric Mangini
is a huge Aaron Pryor fan and has used Aaron Pryor's attitude and career as a source of motivation for his team. Aaron filmed a short clip saying it was "New York Jets time."
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Cincinnati, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, and member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
. He is the former world Junior Welterweight champion, and regarded as one of the greatest fighters in the history of the weight class.
Amateur career
Pryor, nicknamed The Hawk, had a record of 204 wins and 16 losses as an amateur. He won a silver medal at the 1975 Pan American GamesBoxing at the 1975 Pan American Games
The Men's Boxing Tournament at the 1975 Pan American Games was held in Mexico City, Mexico, from October 12 to October 26.- Medal winners :-Medal table:-External links:*...
, and participated in the 1976 Summer Olympics
1976 Summer Olympics
The 1976 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event celebrated in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, in 1976. Montreal was awarded the rights to the 1976 Games on May 12, 1970, at the 69th IOC Session in Amsterdam, over the bids of Moscow and...
in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
as an alternate. In 1972 he was the National AAU Champion at 132 lb, having outpointed Robert Newton
Robert Newton
Robert Newton was an English stage and film actor. Along with Errol Flynn, Newton was one of the most popular actors among the male juvenile audience of the 1940s and early 1950s, especially with British boys...
of Boston. He beat future great Thomas Hearns
Thomas Hearns
Thomas "Hitman" Hearns is a retired American boxer. Nicknamed the "Motor City Cobra" and more famously "The Hitman", Hearns became the first boxer in history to win world titles in four divisions. He would also become the first fighter in history to win five world titles in five different divisions...
in the finals of the 1976 National Golden Gloves.
Professional career
Pryor turned professional on November 11, 1976, with a win over Larry SmithLarry Smith
Larry W. Smith, CQ is an athlete, businessperson and member of the Canadian Senate.-Education:He graduated from Bishop's University with a degree in economics before going on to be a professional player in the Canadian Football League...
. In 1977, Pryor fought eight fights, winning all but two by knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
. The only two fighters who heard the final bell versus Pryor that year were Johnny Summerhayes and Jose Resto. After the fight with Summerhayes, Pryor won 26 fights in a row by knockout, in one of the longest knockout streaks in the history of boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
.
In 1978, Pryor won five fights, and in 1979 he won six. However, during 1979, Pryor experienced a rise in competition level, and in his last fight that year, he was pitted for the first time ever against a former or future world champion, when he faced former Junior Welterweight champion of the world Alfonso Fraser, Peppermint, of Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
, who lasted five rounds with The Hawk. After that fight, Pryor entered the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
rankings.
He only kept on going up in the rankings for the first part of 1980. He beat Julio Valdez
Julio Valdez
Julio Julián Castillo Valdez is a former infielder in Major League Baseball. He played mainly as a shortstop from through for the Boston Red Sox...
, Leonidas Asprilla and Carl Crowley before a world title bout was set up by the WBA, versus two time world champion Antonio Cervantes
Antonio Cervantes
Antonio Cervantes aka Kid Pambelé is a Colombian boxing trainer and former two time world Jr. Welterweight champion. He successfully defended the title 16 times. Cervantes fought 21 world title fights, keeping the 140 pounds title for almost 8 years...
of Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
at Cincinnati. Pryor was dropped in round one, but he rose and knocked out Cervantes in round four in front of a national television audience, becoming a world champion. He finished the year knocking out Gaetan Hart
Gaétan Hart
Gaétan Hart is a former lightweight/welterweight boxer from Canada, who was a three time boxing champion from his country. He lost his only world title fight against Aaron Pryor in 1980...
to retain his title.
1981 brought Pryor up to the ring against Lennox Blackmore and Dujuan Johnson. Pryor beat Blackmore in two rounds, but had to work more against Johnson, once again visiting the floor in round one before winning by knockout in six.
In 1982 he defeated fringe contender Miguel Montilla by a knockout in 12 to begin the year, then put his title on the line versus Akio Kameda. Once again, Pryor went to the floor in round one but got up to knock the Japanese challenger out in round six.
Bouts with Arguello
In what promoter Bob ArumBob Arum
Robert "Bob" Arum is the founder and CEO of Top Rank, a professional boxing promotion company based in Las Vegas. He also worked for the US Attorney's Office for the southern district of New York in the tax division....
nicknamed The Battle of The Champions
The Battle of the Champions
The Battle of the Champions, was a term used by promoter Bob Arum regarding the November 12, 1982 boxing match between Aaron Pryor and Alexis Argüello.-The Fighters:...
, Pryor defeated Alexis Argüello
Alexis Argüello
Alexis Argüello , also known by the stage name El Flaco Explosivo , was a Nicaraguan professional boxer and politician...
by a technical knockout in 14 in front of an HBO
Home Box Office
HBO, short for Home Box Office, is an American premium cable television network, owned by Time Warner. , HBO's programming reaches 28.2 million subscribers in the United States, making it the second largest premium network in America . In addition to its U.S...
audience. The fight was named Fight of the Year and later the Fight of the Decade by The Ring
The Ring (magazine)
The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication...
.
The fight sparked controversy however, because Pryor's trainer, Panama Lewis
Panama Lewis
Carlos "Panama" Lewis is a well-known and highly controversial boxing trainer who achieved his greatest notoriety in the 1980s.-Early career:Lewis was a disciple of trainer Chickie Ferrara...
, introduced a second water bottle which he described as "the bottle I mixed" after round 13, leading to speculation that the bottle was tainted. The Florida State Boxing Commission failed to administer a post-fight urine test, adding to speculation that the bottle contained an unsanctioned substance. Pryor and Arguello met after the fight and Arguello asked Pryor if there was a substance in the bottle. Pryor told Arguello there wasn't anything in the bottle that gave him an advantage.
Panama Lewis later revealed on several occasions that the mixture was merely "tap water mixed with Perrier water. Thats all." In a 2009 documentary, former Lewis-trained boxer Luis Resto
Luis Resto
Luis Resto born Luis Edgardo Resto, is a Detroit-based musician, producer and keyboardist who has worked closely with rapper Eminem since his third major-label album The Eminem Show. He is of Puerto Rican descent, with both of his parents from Puerto Rico, and was raised in Detroit , Michigan...
revealed that Panama Lewis would also break apart antihistamine
Antihistamine
An H1 antagonist is a histamine antagonist of the H1 receptor that serves to reduce or eliminate effects mediated by histamine, an endogenous chemical mediator released during allergic reactions...
pills and pour the medicine into his water, giving him greater lung capacity in the later rounds of a fight. This revelation fueled further speculation as to whether Lewis had added an unsanctioned substance to Pryor's water in his bout with Arguello.
In Pryor-Arguello 2, there was no mixed bottle and Pryor still savagely beat Arguello particularly in the later rounds.
In 1983, after defending his crown against former WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
world champion Sang-Hyun Kim
Sang-Hyun Kim
Sang-Hyun Kim is a former boxer from South Korea.In 1978, he won the Orient and Pacific Boxing Federation light welterweight title....
(KO 3), Pryor beat Arguello again, this time by a knockout in 10 rounds.
1st Retirement
After the fight, both Pryor and Arguello announced their retirement, with Pryor leaving the WBA crown vacant.Pryor took back his decision of retiring soon after, however, and the IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
immediately recognized him as their world champion. 1984 proved to be a frustrating year for Pryor. His proposed fight with world Lightweight champion Ray Mancini
Ray Mancini
Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini is a retired Italian-American boxer. He held the World Boxing Association lightweight championship from 1982 to 1984. Mancini inherited his distinctive nickname from his father, veteran boxer Lenny "Boom Boom" Mancini, who laid the foundation for his son's career...
fell through when Mancini lost his title against Livingstone Bramble
Livingstone Bramble
Ras-I Alujah Bramble is a boxer. However, Bramble was raised on Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. He became the first world champion from Saint Kitts and Nevis. As of 2005, Bramble is still active in professional boxing...
, and Pryor was able to defend his IBF world title only once, against Nick Furlano, who became the first guy in 27 fights to last the distance with Pryor, losing to Pryor on points in 15 rounds in Canada.
In 1985, Pryor would only fight once, retaining his title versus future world champion Gary Hinton
Gary Hinton
- Professional career :Hinton turned pro in 1978 and won the vacant IBF light welterweight title with a decision win over Reyes Antonio Cruz in 1986. He lost the title in his first defense to Joe Manley by KO later that year.- External links :...
in 15 rounds, again by points.
Comeback
In 1987 he made a short comeback, suffering his lone loss by a knockout in seven to Bobby Joe YoungBobby Joe Young
Bobby Joe Young is a former boxer from Steubenville, Ohio. Young is best known as the only man to have a professional win over Aaron Pryor.-Amateur career:...
, a fringe contender of the era.
In 1988 and 1989, he attempted another comeback, winning three fights, all by knockout, against lower opposition.
Final retirement
In 1990 it was discovered that Pryor had been fighting with eye problems, and he was never allowed to box again.In 1996, Pryor was elected to the International Boxing Hall Of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
.
He retired with 39 wins, 1 loss and 35 wins by knockout.
Personal life
Pryor lives in his hometown of Cincinnati with his wife, Frankie Pryor, and their four children – Aaron, Jr., Antwan, Stephan, and Elizabeth. Pryor is an ordained deacon at New Friendship Baptist Church and travels the world making personal appearances and spreading his anti-drug message. In the 1990s, Pryor opened a gym in his hometown where he helps children learn boxing and stay off the streets. He remains active in the sport of boxing training both professional and Golden GlovesGolden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
amateur boxers. The Pryor boxing legacy continues today with Aaron, Jr. and Stephan following in their dad's footsteps.
Recent Activities
Aaron Pryor has been used as a motivational speaker for the 2006 New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. Former Jets Coach Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini
Eric Mangini is the former head coach of the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets of the National Football League and current NFL analyst for ESPN.-College:...
is a huge Aaron Pryor fan and has used Aaron Pryor's attitude and career as a source of motivation for his team. Aaron filmed a short clip saying it was "New York Jets time."