Losing A Legend: Longtime Boxing Promoter, Manager Lou Duva Passes Away At Age 94

Boxing HOFer LOU DUVA, who managed and trained 19 world titleholders, died yesterday of "natural causes" in his hometown of Paterson, N.J., according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.com. Duva was the "patriarch of the boxing family that founded Main Events, which became one of the most dominant promoters of the past 30 years." Boxing promoter LOU DIBELLA said, "He 100 percent was boxing's YOGI BERRA. He said some wild things and was a joy to be around" (ESPN.com, 3/8). In N.Y., Richard Goldstein writes Duva was one of boxing's "most formidable figures as a promoter, manager and trainer." Main Events, founded by his late son DAN, was created to "challenge the powerful" DON KING and BOB ARUM (N.Y. TIMES, 3/9). YAHOO SPORTS' Kevin Iole wrote, "Duva was the quintessential boxing lifer: Gruff, hard-boiled on the outside and lovable and caring on the inside" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/8).