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SPORTSThursday 9 March 2017
Boxing Hall of Famer Lou Duva dies at 94, handled 19 champs
PATERSON, N.J. (AP) — Lou In this June 12, 2011, file photo, Lou Duva gestures at the Boxing Hall of Fame parade in Canas- Duva for almost 60 years.
Duva, the Boxing Hall of tota, N.Y. “Lou always made me
Famer who handled the feel like I was a special
careers of 19 champions Associated Press person,” Hascup said. “He
including heavyweight ti- was a great story teller who
tlist Evander Holyfield, died the Year” in 1985 by the the Year.” Fame and the National Ital- kept everyone captivated
Wednesday. He was 94. Boxing Writers Association Duva was enshrined in the ian American Sports Hall of with his stories. He was an
The colorful Duva died of of America. In 1987, the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Henry Hascup, the icon in the sport of boxing,
natural causes at a hos- World Boxing Association Fame (1998), as well as the president of the New Jersey who held every role there
pital in Paterson, where chose Duva as “Trainer of New Jersey Boxing Hall of Boxing Hall of Fame, knew was in the sport. I told him
he lived, his son said in a once that the only role he
statement released by the didn’t play was ring girl. He
family. A gruff, down-to- was a great cheerleader.
earth manager and trainer You knew when he was in
who was generous with his a boxer’s corner, psych-
pupils, Lou Duva had a ca- ing that guy up. You could
reer that spanned seven hear him. It’s a tremendous
decades. Besides Olympic loss to the sport of boxing.”
medalists like Holyfield, he Duva is survived by a son,
also handled welterweight Dino, and daughters Don-
champions Pernell Whita- na Duva Brooks, Deanne
ker and Meldrick Taylor. His Boorman and Denise. He
first titlist was middleweight was preceded in death by
Joey Giardiello, who won his wife, Enes, and a son,
his crown in 1963. Dan, whose wife, Kathy,
The son of Italian immi- helped run Main Events.
grants, Duva and his family A viewing will be held Sun-
built the promotional com- day at Festa Funeral Home
pany Main Events (found- in Totowa, with a funeral
ed in 1978) into one of box- Monday at St Mary’s Ro-
ing’s powerhouses. Duva man Catholic Church in
was voted “Manager of Paterson.q
