Still having to work outside of boxing, Pryor met Theresa Adams, and was immediately smitten by the former Bunny Girl. Six years older, Adams was a lot wiser and smarter than Pryor, and she started to manipulate Pryor in his boxing career.

Pryor was 24-0 (22) when he contacted Promoter Harold Smith and asked him to get him a title fight. Smith offered Pryor a fight against long reigning WBA Light Welterweight Champion Antonio Cervantes.

Pryor agreed to fight the grizzled Colombian, despite having to move up in weight. He was paid $50,000 in suitcase before the fight by Smith and another $50,000 after the fight. Pryor was amazing in the ring destroying the Colombian in four rounds.

Pryor was a World titleholder and rich, a bad combination for Aaron. His marriage to Carol was ended, as he could not conceal his relationship with Theresa any longer. And on top of this an entourage formed around Pryor, led by his two bodyguards, who were both serious drug dealers, who would end up serving long prison sentences.

One person who never manipulated Pryor fully was Don King. When Smith went to prison for his part $21 Million embezzlement, King offered Pryor a four-fight $1 Million dollar deal. Pryor accepted, but when King tried to renew the contract, Pryor resisted everything King threw at him, eventually winning a court case against King!

In the mean time Pryor’s personal life was as crazy as ever Theresa had shot him in an argument, the bullet going though his left forearm and lodging in his chest, less than an inch from his heart. Pryor refused to press charges against Theresa who smartly committed herself to a mental institution for treatment.

When Theresa returned she took over as Pryor’s manager, and help build up Pryor’s biggest ever bout, with the Great Alexis Arguello.

In November 1982 in front of 23,800 spectators at the Miami Orange Bowl, and Millions watching on TV, Pryor and Arguello delivered a classic. Pryor threw 130 punches in the first round alone! Arguello responded by rocking Pryor in round two with two huge rights. The fight continued at a hectic pace and was evenly matched going into the championship rounds. In the 13th Arguello once again stunned Pryor with a right hand. At the end of the round Panama Lewis called for his black bottle, and Pryor took the contents. In the 14th Pryor came out unleashing an assault that left Arguello limp on the ropes and causing the ref to stop the bout in Pryor’s favour…

When it was found out Pryor had avoided giving a urine sample post fight, many people wondered what was actually in the black bottle. The corner stated it was Peppermint Schnapps, which was used to cool the throat.

Pryor made $1.6 Million for the fight and married Theresa, and set about arranging a rematch with Arguello. Pryor refused to let Theresa near him during the training camp for the Arguello rematch, so Theresa went to drown her sorrows with Pryor’s new co-promoter Sylvester Stallone in Malibu. Rumours began that Theresa and Stallone were having an affair. Pryor believed them and put up a restraining order against his wife, and filed for divorce; Theresa was given $500,000 in the settlement.