Duran goes for Manny; Hearns roots for Oscar

Roberto Duran and Thomas Hearns, two of the most unforgettable fighters of all time, are not on the same page when it comes to the Manny Pacquiao-Oscar dela Hoya showdown on Dec. 6.

While Duran, the “Hands of Stone” from Panama, is rooting for Pacquiao, Hearns, known as “The Hitman” from Detroit, is going for Dela Hoya in the highly anticipated match at the MGM in Las Vegas.

Duran and Hearns, the megastars of the ‘80s, fought once in their storied careers. The fight took place at the Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in June 15, 1984, and Hearns posted a sensational third-round KO.

It was for the WBC light-middleweight crown, a blockbuster fight that had Filipino Carlos Padilla Jr. as the third man on the ring.

Duran, who also waged big fights against Sugar Ray Leonard (twice in 1980 and once in 1989) and Marvin Hagler, is almost like Pacquiao – 5-foot-7, 66 inches in reach, and fearless.

Duran’s first two fights with Leonard were at 145 pounds, and the last one at 160. Pacquiao (5’6 1/2” with a reach of 67”) and Dela Hoya (5’10” and 73”) have agreed to a weight limit of 147 pounds.

Duran told Michael Marley of boxingconfidential.com that Pacquiao, at 29 being the more active fighter as compared to the 35-year-old Dela Hoya, has the edge.

“A tough fight, it really is,” he said. “I’m leaning to Pacquiao. I am leaning to Manny. I like Dela Hoya. He has been a great fighter and the people love him. But he has not been active in recent years.”

“Pacquiao has been extremely active. It seems like he is always training and always fighting. It’s not good for an older fighter like Oscar to stay out of the gym so much. The inactivity could hurt him,” said Duran, now 57.

Pacquiao has been busy in the last three years fighting 10 fights, including those against Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez while Dela Hoya has only fought five times since June of 2004.

“They are both good fighters. I have not made up my mind but I am leaning to Pacquiao because he could be sharper. Yes, he is exciting. Yes, he makes the fans so happy. I can see that also,” he said.

Hearns, at 6-foot-1 very hard to hit sometimes, said the size difference, Dela Hoya, bigger and heavier, will be the key.

“No way Pacquiao can win that fight,” he told Marley, waving his left hand as the article said. “Oscar may carry him for a few rounds but he is way too big and too strong for the smaller guy. He will win this fight easy.”

Hearns believes that “Pacman (Pacquiao) will be the Hurt Man after four or five rounds against Oskie (Dela Hoya).”