CLEVELAND, Ohio – Lou Duva spent more than 50 years developing himself into one of the most iconic trainers and managers in boxing.
He developed 19 world champions that included the likes of Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Bobby Czyz and Mike McCallum.
In the book “A Fighting Life: My Seven Decades in Boxing”, former sports writer Tim Smith not only captured Duva’s career in boxing but also how Duva rose from a life of immigrant parents to an enlisted soldier during World War II, and a host of various jobs while still supporting his family as he built a boxing promotion empire – Main Events.
The book is written as told to Smith by the 93-year-old Duva.
Duva shares many of his great memories while growing up in New Jersey that included time spent with Joe Louis, and how he grew up in the same neighborhood with Larry Doby, the second black man to play in the Majors.
“A Fighting Life” is more than a book on boxing, just like Duva was more than a trainer and manager. Not only does Smith detail many inspirational aspects of Duva’s life, but the storytelling is strong enough to produce tears during some of the challenges Duva faced, to tears of joy from many of Duva’s antics.
There’s a story on how Duva, who was a bail bondsman at the time, utilized his friendship with Joe Frazier to help capture a fugitive who idolized the former heavyweight champion. It became the easiest capture of a fugitive by Duva.
The biggest coup by Duva was signing the top stars on the 1984 Olympic team. That team included Holyfield, Whitaker, Mark Breland, Tyrell Biggs and Meldrick Taylor.
It was the jolt Main Events needed to reach unprecedented levels.
Smith reaches even higher levels in his work with Duva.
