Lou Duva

I just read it. 95 Years old. I was always a fan. I got a chance to shake Lou`s hand at a fight card in Sacramento. Good guy. Amazing life. Worked with some great fighters. I always respected the way he backed his fighters up. I remember him laying on the canvas during the Golota/Bowe brawl and being worried for him.

RIP

 

Such a tragic loss. Lou was a legend. I'll never forget my phone call with him, he was quite a character. You will be missed Lou. Rest in peace.

 

I heard just shy of 95, but very old. A boxing guy. Opinionated but he seemed fair. RIP.

 

Lou was an institution

He was already almost 60 yrs old when he broke into the boxing scene in the late '70s

How he lived to be 95 is a mystery as he obviously had anger management issues. He blew up more than once during and after televised fights.

 

Through my family links to Burt (Tyrell) Biggs, i know plenty of tales regarding this guy.
He wouldnt mind me saying much of it was 'business' . The Duva's ran it for profit and treated their charges accordingly at times.
Lets not get too sentimental. He enjoyed a long and full journey, longer and fuller than most will achieve.
Certainly a guy that will live long in the memory.

 

I kinda embarrassed to admit I thought he had already passed away some time ago.

 

Boxing is a business. The Duva`s were fortunate to have the $ to buy an Olympic Team. That was some staple that got in the mid 80s

 

I think he worked with Joey Giardello in the early 1960's.

 

They had to buy those guys as a group.
The guys themselves were good friends and insisted on not being split.

 

I didn't know that.

 

It's true.During the olympics all sorts of people were in camp making offers.
Pat Nappi the head coach threatened to walk, such was the distraction.
The guys said they would go with one management team after the Olympics. The Duva's put the best deal forward.There wasnt total agreement on the whole thing,but thats how it was.

 

A brilliant character and iconic figure for the sport.

I have 'shared' this before, but myself and some mates once were 'chased away' by Duva after winding up after a fight in early 90s.

He was getting on then, but when he bit and started to move, trust me I soon sobered up and got out of there!

 

He was certainly one of boxing's most dynamic and controversial personalities. Some loved him and others despised him. I enjoyed the pleasure of seeing countless fighters who he trained and managed growing up and even witnessed some of his famous outbursts... Sadly he lived to experience the worst thing that a parent could ever go through and that was the loss of his son Dan. But nevertheless, RIP Lou Duva and congratulations for living a long and productive life.