These Are Fighting Words : Boxing: Opinions differ on outcome of Saturday’s De La Hoya-Ruelas bout, after which even Holmes might know who they are.

There have been a lot of famous things said about fights and fighters.

Muhammad Ali said, “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.”

Roberto Duran said, “No mas.”

Rocky Balboa said, “Yo, Adrian!”

And so on. Words about fights are easy to come by, the same for opinions. Fight opinions are like fight agents these days. Everybody’s got one.

In this spirit, here is what some notable figures in the field of fighting had to say about the Oscar De La Hoya-Rafael Ruelas bout Saturday night in Las Vegas.

Roberto Duran: “I saw both fighters fight. Ruelas has the experience and he has been in tough fights. Ruelas has wobbled when he got hit. De La Hoya is young, hyped, quicker and I think that’s the difference. I’m not saying Ruelas can’t win. Of course, neither guy could have beaten me when I was a lightweight. As a matter of fact, I’d fight them both on the same night.”

George Foreman: “Oscar De La Hoya is a great young fighter. I expect him to win this fight. I don’t see any reason why he won’t go on to be one of the greatest.”

Henry Holmes, attorney for George Foreman: “It’ll be a great fight. Ruelas has had tougher fights than De La Hoya and he has more heart too. So I’m picking Ruelas. I think he’s ready.”

Larry Holmes: “I don’t know who they are.”

Riddick Bowe: “I think Ruelas has a little more experience, but I feel De La Hoya has fought tougher opposition. So that’s a pick-’em fight. It could go either way.”

Rock Newman, Bowe’s manager: “I’m not in the habit of helping Bob Arum on a promotion, but I do want to see this fight. They’re both warriors. I like this fight. It’s a fight fan’s fight. . . . their styles, their skill level, there’s going to be a lot of action. I don’t know if De La Hoya has the real championship persona. I think Ruelas is a good fighter, not a great fighter. It seems De La Hoya has the potential to be a great fighter and a win over Ruelas would really fast-forward him toward greatness.”

Larry Merchant, HBO: “I’m not going to give a pick. Ruelas is the biggest, strongest, perhaps the toughest guy De La Hoya has faced. And if Ruelas can survive De La Hoya’s early sharpshooting, then we are in for a long, hard, maybe very dramatic fight.”

Angelo Dundee: “(Best fighters) pound-for-pound, that makes me nauseous. They said that about Rocky Marciano, about Sugar Ray Robinson, about Muhammad Ali. What does it mean? Either these two kids can fight or they can’t. I’ll have to go with Oscar on this one. I think he’s got what it takes. But you know, I’ve been watching these Ruelas kids since they were this high. It wouldn’t surprise me a bit if Ruelas fought the fight of his life. Maybe the kid will fool everybody.”

Don Chargin, longtime promoter: “It’s terrific. It reminds me of Danny Lopez and Bobby Chacon when we sold out the Sports Arena in 1974. In this fight, you’ve got two young, talented fighters. I like De La Hoya early in the fight and Ruelas late. If Oscar can’t put him down and keep him there the first three or four rounds, it’ll be a long evening for him.”

Charlie Steiner, ESPN: “The thing is, that fight is strictly a regional thing. Nobody back East gives a damn about that fight. I don’t even know if they’ll send me to cover it.”

Howard Bingham, Muhammad Ali photojournalist: “De La Hoya is one tough fighter. If he gets by this guy, and I think he will, then there’s nothing else in his way. He could be the greatest fighter of all time. (Laughs).”

Art Aragon: “Ruelas is gonna win. Why? Because I don’t like the other guy. The other guy is not the Golden Boy. The heir apparent to my title of Golden Boy is a killer by the name of Danny Romero. He deserves the title. I will not have an impostor even borrow my title.”

Marty McSorley, King enforcer: “Oscar has fought a lot at the Forum. I’ve seen him fight on TV, but never in person. He’s a real exciting fighter. I’m a big fight fan because any time two guys go at it, I’m excited to watch it.”