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Hands Of Stone Roberto Duran: I'm Leaning Toward Manny Pacquiao Victory!
Michael Marley
9/17/2008
MANCHESTER, NH--It’s fitting when you think it through. Roberto Duran was “Manos De Piedra,” the legendary “hands of Stone” who fought his way to fame and fortune after starting life sleeping rough on the streets of the horrid Chorillo barrio of Panama City.
Manny Pacquiao, who can also fairly be said to possess hands of stone, battled his way to riches and to international celebrity after a similar beginning mired in abject poverty.
The national icon of Panama appreciates the national icon of the Philippines. Duran showed as much when I asked his preliminary thoughts about the Pacquaio-Oscar de La Hoya bout coming up Dec. 6.
The man widely regarded as the greatest lightweight fighter ever smiled animatedly when I mentioned the hyped-up matchup.
“A tough fight, it really is,” my old friend told me Wednesday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena where he, his old rival Thomas Hearns and Muhammad Ali trainer Angelo Dundee served as celebrity guests for a charity boxing show.
Duran pinched a thumb and a finger together, leaving a small space to perhaps slide a quarter through.
“I am leaning to Pacquiao,” Duran said. “I am leaning to Manny. I like de la Hoya. He has been a great fighter and the people love him. But he has not been very 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. I mean, I can understand it but the inactivity could hurt him.
“They are both good fighters. I have not made up my mind but I am leaning toward Pacquiao because he could be sharper. I don’t see any long period of time where Pacquaio has not been in the gym.”
I mentioned to Duran that, like him, Pacman has been hailed as boxing’s most entertaining and dynamic fighter.
The smile brightened up by about 10,000 watts.
“Yes, he is exciting. Yes, he makes the fans so happy. I can see that also,” Duran said.
As I spoke to him I was reminded of the late, great trainers Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown who tutored the young and seemingly unbeatable Duran when he was tearing up the 135-pound division.
Both of the trainers used to often quote their maxim about inactivity.
“To rest is to rust,” Arcel and Brown used to say.
Duran probably heard his much admired trainers say that hundreds of times.
Now, Duran theorizes, all that rest that has accumulated on Oscar, could make the difference in the big fight.
Duran is leaning towards the Pacman .
And, when you’ve got Duran’s awesome resume, you can lean anyway you like.
http://www.******************.com/articles.php?id=5442
Michael Marley
9/17/2008
MANCHESTER, NH--It’s fitting when you think it through. Roberto Duran was “Manos De Piedra,” the legendary “hands of Stone” who fought his way to fame and fortune after starting life sleeping rough on the streets of the horrid Chorillo barrio of Panama City.
Manny Pacquiao, who can also fairly be said to possess hands of stone, battled his way to riches and to international celebrity after a similar beginning mired in abject poverty.
The national icon of Panama appreciates the national icon of the Philippines. Duran showed as much when I asked his preliminary thoughts about the Pacquaio-Oscar de La Hoya bout coming up Dec. 6.
The man widely regarded as the greatest lightweight fighter ever smiled animatedly when I mentioned the hyped-up matchup.
“A tough fight, it really is,” my old friend told me Wednesday night at the Verizon Wireless Arena where he, his old rival Thomas Hearns and Muhammad Ali trainer Angelo Dundee served as celebrity guests for a charity boxing show.
Duran pinched a thumb and a finger together, leaving a small space to perhaps slide a quarter through.
“I am leaning to Pacquiao,” Duran said. “I am leaning to Manny. I like de la Hoya. He has been a great fighter and the people love him. But he has not been very 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. I mean, I can understand it but the inactivity could hurt him.
“They are both good fighters. I have not made up my mind but I am leaning toward Pacquiao because he could be sharper. I don’t see any long period of time where Pacquaio has not been in the gym.”
I mentioned to Duran that, like him, Pacman has been hailed as boxing’s most entertaining and dynamic fighter.
The smile brightened up by about 10,000 watts.
“Yes, he is exciting. Yes, he makes the fans so happy. I can see that also,” Duran said.
As I spoke to him I was reminded of the late, great trainers Ray Arcel and Freddie Brown who tutored the young and seemingly unbeatable Duran when he was tearing up the 135-pound division.
Both of the trainers used to often quote their maxim about inactivity.
“To rest is to rust,” Arcel and Brown used to say.
Duran probably heard his much admired trainers say that hundreds of times.
Now, Duran theorizes, all that rest that has accumulated on Oscar, could make the difference in the big fight.
Duran is leaning towards the Pacman .
And, when you’ve got Duran’s awesome resume, you can lean anyway you like.
http://www.******************.com/articles.php?id=5442
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