Lou Duva passing away

By Franco Falcinelli

The passing away of a great manager and promoter Lou Duva, leaves us a deep empty place not only in the “Great American Boxing”, but also in worldwide.

Lou Duva was a protagonist of extraordinary boxing events for the past 50 years.

Together with his son Dan, gave rise to “Main events” that, in 80^th of last century, succeeded to obstruct the excessive power of Bob Arum and Don King, organizing memorable bouts and doing confront champions of world value.

Mauro Betti, WBC Vice President, has drawn me the list of great champions that Lou, example of incarnation of the technique and management, has trained and managed and promoted: Joey Giardello, Rocky Lockridge, Johnny Bumpus, Zab Judah, Shaun George, Michael Marrone, , Pernell Whitahe, Evander Holyfiel, Meldrick Taylor, Michael Moorer, Vinny Pazienza, Mark Breland, Jose Luis Lopez(Maestrito), Andrew Golota, Tyrell Biggs, Alex Arthur, Scott Franc.

I had the pleasure to know him and to have close a sincere friendship.

Thanks to unforgettable Manager Steve Klaus that was asking his friend Lou to organize an amateur dual match Umbria vs New Jersey in Totowa (N. J) in 1977.

In the photo: Lou Duva and Franco Falcinelli at Atlanta Olympic Games in 1996.

I met Lou Duva in other circumstances as well: in Los Angeles ’84 Olympic Games and Atlanta O.G. 1996.

Lon Duva took the best talents in the great American Team of “Los Angeles 84”. With those boxers was born a productive collaboration with one of the best Italian manager Umberto Branchini and his best athletes.

I have always admired his optimism, his courage, his ethic behavior, the respect for his boxers and for his love for Foggia, from where originally his parents moved to United States in the beginning of 20^st century.

Among his favorite phrases:

“I was fighting all my life, so i know what its the to catch a punch”.

“ You dont think i got this fear being a ballet dancer, do You?”

Dear Lou, I am sure that you will find benevolent welcome in paradise, because you was a right and generous man!

To Your beloved sons Dan, Dino, Denise, Donne and Deanna, to your grandchildren my deepest condolences