By Gerardo Granados: The “Golden Boy” Oscar De la Hoya against Roberto “Manos de Piedra” Duran fighting at lightweight for the World title. This fight might resemble the brawl in Montreal in a few aspects, as both De la Hoya and Leonard were Olympic gold medalists, that the height and reach are very similar, and also that both are multiple division champions; but Sugar Ray might have been better over all skilled than Oscar in their prime. Roberto Duran was the underdog when he fought against Leonard but against De la Hoya odds would be even.

The six division champion fought against great opposition, but lost a couple of his fights against the top prime fighters that he engaged. He was a ring master at offense or defense, great chin, good power, speed and footwork, disciplined and tactical, also king of pay per view ratings. Height and reach advantage for Oscar. At lightweight title fights has a record of T 7 – W 7(6) – L 0 – D0.

Duran is a four division champion, got to fight fifteen rounds, good speed, great power, good chin, good speed, mobility and footwork, very smart inside the ring but outside undisciplined. Duran managed himself to defeat bigger fighters above the lightweight division such as Davey Moore, Iran Barkley, Sugar Ray Leonard, Pipino Cuevas and Carlos Palomino. Roberto Duran was a mean aggressive fighter that wouldn’t miss the chance to hurt his rival inside the ring. Power and stamina advantage for Duran. At lightweight title fights has a record of T 13 – W 13(12) – L 0 – D0.

TALE OF THE TAPE:

Oscar De la Hoya: height 5´10 ½”, reach 73”; Record:T45 – W 39(30) – L 6(2) – D0. Former: WBO super featherweight, WBO – IBF lightweight, WBC light welterweight, WBC welterweight, WBC – WBA Super World light middleweight, WBO middleweight champion.
Notables: Manny Pacquiao, Steve Forbes, Floyd Mayweather, Ricardo Mayorga, Bernard Hopkins, Felix Sturm, Shane Mosley, Luis Ramon Campas, Fernando Vargas, Javier Castillejo, Arturo Gatti, Felix Trinidad, Ike Quartey, Julio Cesar Chavez, Hector Camacho, Pernell Whitaker, Miguel Angel Gonzalez, Jesse James Leija, Genaro Hernandez, Rafael Ruelas, John John Molina, Jorge Paez, Jimmi Bredhal, Troy Dorsey and Jeff Mayweather.

Roberto Duran: height 5´7´´, reach 66´´; Record: T119 – W 103 (70) – L 16 (4) – D0. Former: WBA World lightweight, WBC welterweight, WBA World light middleweight, WBC middleweight champion.

Notables: Hector Camacho, Patrick Goossen, William Joppy, Jorge Fernando Castro, Vinny Pazienza, Sugar Ray Leonard, Iran Barkley, Thomas Hearns, Marvin Hagler, Davey Moore, Pipino Cuevas, Wilfred Benitez, Carlos Palomino, Esteban De Jesus, Saoul Mamby, Guts Ishimatsu, Ken Buchanan, Hiroshi Kobayashi and Ernesto Marcel.