I can see a case for both men. IMO, De La Hoya's best division, in spite of the few fights taking place here. He never looked more lethal. Pryor was of course a beast, but my God, could De La Hoya hit like a Demon around this weight ("I'll tell you the difference between them (Mosley & De La Hoya)...Oscar punches like a Heavyweight" --- Jesse James Leija). I see a fast-paced, furious clash, but who to back?
Gimme the upset pick. De La Hoya by Mid round KO. Too big, too fast too powerful. Lethal combination.
Would be a war for the first few rounds. It depends on whether Pryor can survive the early onslaught; if he does, DLH fades and get mowed down. But there aren't a lot of guys who could've warred with DLH at 140 and lasted.
Oscar was a beast @ 140 but still not fully developed as a fighter. He was better than Michael Moorer was @ 175 but it's a comparison i'll just make without rambling. It's nearly impossible to not bring up the Arguello fight when discussing Pryor. This is no exception. Oscar was younger and bigger than the Alexis that moved up to 140, but not nearly as seasoned. Oscar's left hook was probably harder than Arguello's right hand but not by a whole lot, and it would be harder to land. That's why i have to go with "The Hawk". I don't think De La Hoya could have handled him. Too much stamina and unpredictability for him at that stage. Pryor wouldn't have packed it in when tasting Oscar's power and i don't think he could "control" him with the jab often enough either. If you take the De La Hoya who had already faced the likes of Quartey and Whitaker but give him the "beastliness" of his days @ junior-welter he wins. The version of both we saw @ 140 i go with Pryor by decision.
agree... I think his exceptional combination punching and stamina would be the key... The Hawk would still be firing when Hoya was wearing out
In todays 12 round format Oscar can win a decision,- but Pryor, especially on the patented Panama Roach Juice, can beat him down in the 13th, 14th and 15th rounds. Arguello was really just a tall featherweight, or a tall lightweight, Oscar did at least enjoy some success at Welter, Light Welter and Middlweight. That said, name one buzz-saw fighter {with high energy levels and the sort of abundant self-confidence that Pryor had} who was faced by Oscar? Quartey and Trinidad are formidable foes but the were deliberate and somewhat ponderous in comparison to Pryor, though harder hitting and bigger. The one guy on Oscars rez who kind of resembles Pryor is Shane Mosley- a lightweight fighter, light-welterweight even, who used speed, energy and volume with sold basics to beat Oscar.
I did think De La Hoya plainly won his rematch with Mosley, though --- & I'm not sure I would draw all that many comparisons between he & Pryor, myself. Some, but not a whole lot. I do see a case at 140lbs. for either De La Hoya or Pryor to win this. A lot would hinge on Pryor's reaction to De La Hoya's power...we know he'll be stung & stung early, so can he take the heat?
