by T.K. Stewart
Manchester, N.H. - Thomas Hearns and Roberto Duran are together again here in idyllic New Hampshire, but this time as charitable friends.
The occasion is the 7th annual 'Fight to Educate' charity boxing show called 'The Maul in Manchester' which will take place tonight at the 10,000 seat Verizon Wireless Arena and is being promoted by Cedric Kushner's Gotham Boxing.
The card will co-feature Hearn's son, Ronald, in a a scheduled eight-rounder versus Columbia's Alexander Quiroz and the main event will see Peter "Kid Chocolate" Quillin in against Sam Hill. Hill is a full-time police officer from St. Louis, Missouri and is best known for ending David Reid's career in 2001. The card will also see the pro debut of 2008 Olympic team alternate Danny O'Connor from nearby Framingham, Massachusetts who fights at 140-pounds.
The leaves on the trees are beginning to change and there is a crispness to the mornings up here in New England. It is drastically different than the sweltering night Hearns and Duran met in the parking lot behind Caesars Palace in Las Vegas in June 1984.
Hearns demolished Duran in less than two rounds back then in a fight for the WBC Super Welterweight title. But all that is water under the bridge now and both former champions are thrilled to be together as friends and eager to be able to put their names toward a good cause.
"Anytime you can help somebody out, you do," says Duran who is making his first ever trip to New Hampshire. 'Hands of Stone' has a reputation for helping the needy and back when he was one of the highest paid athletes on the planet he handed out fistfuls of dollars to his fellow countrymen in Panama.
"I like to travel and meet people from all over the world," said Duran, who many consider to be among the top 10 greatest fighters that have ever lived. "I'm happy to be able to help out and have some fun."
Legendary trainer Angelo Dundee is also rumored to be attending tonight's fight card although that could not be confirmed.
As for the fights, Quillin, 25, is an undefeated middleweight from Brooklyn, New York with an undefeated record of 19-0 (14)KO and he is knocking on he door of a top 10 ranking. Hearns, a young 29, is also undefeated with a record of 19-0 (15)KO and is rated #12 by the WBC and #13 by the WBA at 154 pounds.
Most will be watching Ronald Hearns with a keen eye to the future. A January 2009 fight is already signed and sealed with undefeated puncher, "Ireland's" John Duddy. That fight is rumored to be heading for New York City and will be televised by Showtime. However, Hearns must make it by Quiroz tonight and Paul Clavette next month in Montreal on the Lucian Bute vs. Librado Andrade undercard.
In order for the Hearns vs. Duddy to happen, Duddy has to win when he fights in Westbury, New York on November 6th against an opponent to be named. There has been speculation that Duddy would fight veteran Bronco McKart at Kings Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland on November 29th, but a fight for Duddy on that date at that venue has been officially scrapped by his braintrust, Irish Ropes Promotions.
Should the Duddy and Hearns fight take place the winner will next challenge Verno Phillips for his IBF 154-pound title.
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