Boxing legend Duva dies
In a sport known for colorful characters, there was none more gregarious than Lou Duva.
The legendary boxing trainer, who developed a number of world champions including Evander Holyfield, died Wednesday at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, N.J. He was 94.
Duva died of natural causes, according to his son Dino Duva, ending more than seven decades of contribution to the Sweet Science. Duva handled the careers of 19 world champions — including Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker and Meldrick Taylor.
“The overwhelming number of calls and sympathy wishes from so many friends and associates shows how much our father was loved and respected,” Dino said in a statement.
Lou Duva was born on May 28, 1922, in New York City to Italian immigrants. The family later moved to Paterson. He was introduced to boxing at age 10, and by the 1950s he was hanging around area gyms and helping to train fighters.
In 1978, his son, Dan, formed Main Events to put on boxing shows in Totowa, N.J. Lou Duva served as manager and trainer to the fighters. Soon Main Events was attracting top talent from across the country and became one of the most powerful boxing promotional companies in the world.
Duva is a member of the International Boxing Hall of Fame, the New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame and the Meadowlands Sports Hall of Fame.
A viewing is scheduled for 3-7 p.m. Sunday at the Festa Funeral Home in Totowa, N.J. The funeral is at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Mary’s R.C. Church in Paterson.