One of the most spectacular fighters in boxing history Aaron Pryor rolled into my neck of the woods this week on business (to promote his son Aaron Pryor Jr.’s next fight in Philadelphia on June 13) and of course I just had to ask him about the fight the boxing world is buzzing about – Manny Pacquiao versus Floyd Mayweather.
Pryor thought about it for a moment, then offered, “I like Pac Man. Because he throws a lot of punches and he’s giving it his all. I love Mayweather – he proves himself over and over and over again. I just want him to prove himself one more time, for me. For me to be on his side he gotta beat the best. And Pac Man is one of the best. Then I’ll say Yay.”
It’s clear Pryor is like the rest of us – he avidly wants to see Mayweather put his abundant skills to the ultimate test, once and for all against the VERY BEST – and not against any more faded names who have passed the age of 35.
“I like Pac Man. I like Pac Man in the fight,” says the 55-year-old Hall of Famer who retired with a record of 39-1 (35 KO’s). “I think Pac Man throws a lot of punches and I don’t think that Pretty Boy Floyd Mayweather…I don’t think Mayweather is gonna be equipped to handle it. That’s just how I feel. But he’s proved himself so many times. But that’s what the fight game is about – every time you fight – prove yourself. I had 11 world title fights. Each time I fought one of those title fights it was about proving myself.”
Mayweather has achieved so much in boxing, so much glory and wealth from the sport. But like Aaron Pryor says, There is still something left that Floyd has to prove.
Pryor is currently in North Jersey with his son Aaron Pryor Jr., in training camp preparing for the June 13 super middleweight bout against Maryland’s Wilson Lockett (12-9-5, 5 KO’s). The show is promoted by Joey Eye Promotions and will be staged at the Hyatt Regency along the Philadelphia Waterfront. Also on the bill will be Ossie Duran, Patrick Farrell, Julio Cesar Matthews, Garrett Wilson, Jason Escalera, Andreas Gustafsson, Jose Ortiz and Elizabeth Sherman.
You can keep up to date with Pryor at his official web site www.hawktime.com
