Aaron Pryor

[ICB]

But from the footage i have seen of his at Middleweight, he looked pretty damn good. And well ahead of his time, so i can assume he was quite a bit better at his peak and at his natural weightclass.

But one thing i do disagree with you on Donny is the Middleweight thing, obviously SRR would lose quite alot at Middleweight. Because he wasn't at his best best weightclass, and he was past his peak. Plus he fought countless times at that weightclass.

Where as SRL only fought there once, and Thomas Hearns, only fought at Middleweight a few times. So obviously they wouldn't lose as much, thats pretty obvious.

SRR lost to Randolph Turpin, but didn't he bravely beat him in the rematch ? even great boxers always meet a style that cancel's there one out. But atleast he beat him in the return.

Where as Thomas Hearns lost to Iran Barkley at Middleweight, a fighter i truly believe would of been embarrassed by SRR. And Thomas Hearns lost the rematch aswell which is a big difference.

At Middleweight he was good Ice.
But simply that, he definitely wasn't great.
Naturally he would be restricted by his size and physique, but is that not a badge that many great fighters pride themselves upon ; the ability to rise through weight divisions effectively?
Certainly in modern boxing it is almost demanded that a fighter wishing to be categorised as great jumps divisions and triumphs.

Ray Leonard was restricted by size too but he beat one of the greatest Middleweights ever.
Surely to rise and defeat the great Marvin Hagler, is as great an achievement as SRR's mixed fortunes at Middleweight?
(Keeping in mind SRL also moved to LH with success, which SRR could not)

The Blade may not have been a great fighter, but his power was tremendous. SRR wasn't a defensive fighter, I see the possibility he would have been clipped by Barkley.

Robinson was great, of that there is no doubt, but I refuse to place blind faith in nostalgic boxing writers and reporters who say he was the greatest. I am not simply arguing the point that SRL and Tommy were as good as SRR, I am suggesting that there have been fighters since that have equaled and even surpassed him.

I understand what your saying Donny but i think you are underrating, Sugar Ray Robinson. He was decades ahead of his time, the left hook he KO'ed Gene Fulmer with is possible the quickest/greatest left hook i've ever seen. That was like a RJJ type performance and KO.

I don't think it was to do with him not doing well at moving through the weightclasses, i think it was due to him being past his prime. And despite all that he still beat some very impressive names.

Sugar Ray Leonard beat a faded Marvin Hagler, who was on the slide. I think Marvin Hagler was for certain ready to be taken. By alot of the young upcoming Middleweights at that time,

It was an impressive display by Sugar Ray Leonard who was coming off a lay off. But Marvin Hagler was on the slide, especially after that brutal war with John Mugabi, which took alot out of him. Had Sugar Ray Leonard fought on at Middleweight, and had fought the young upcoming Middleweights. He for certain would of lost.

By the way Sugar Ray Leonard fought Donny Lalonde at catchweight. Sugar Ray Leonard was 165 where as Donny Lalonde was at 167. The difference being with Sugar Ray Robinson, he was 157 when he fought Joey Maxim, and Joey Maxim was at 173.

Sugar Ray Robinson was winning the fight until the unreal heat got to him, he was suffering from heat prostration. Which can kill you i believe, although im no expert on it.

Lastly you have got to be kidding me if you think Sugar Ray Robinson, may of lost to Iran Barkley. You say Sugar Ray Robinson was no defensive master. No he wasn't but he still had great reflexes, where as Iran Barkley stood straight up and would just eat punches all night long.

Iran Barkley defeated Tommy Hearns because Tommy Hearns had a suspect chin, and suspect stamina. It was just a bad style match up for Tommy Hearns, who was the better fighter by far. But Iran Barkley could take his punches, and had the power to turn Tommy Hearns lights out.

But other than that what did Iran Barkley do ? he couldn't beat the smaller Roberto Duran, he couldn't beat Robbie Simms in an all out war, he couldn't beat Sumbu Kalmabay, who had good upper bodyment and a good jab. All of which Sugar Ray Robinson done better than Sumbu Kalambay.

He couldn't beat Nigel Benn, and he was embarrassed by James Toney. His career is based off two wins over Tommy Hearns. Now im not saying he was a bad fighter, because he certainly wasn't. But he was pretty lucky to get where he was, because he only had an average skill set. And his power although good was also nothing special either.