I First me Lou Duva at the 1992 Olympic games in Barcelona, Spain. He was there with some of his Champions such as Pernell "Sweet Pea" Whitaker and Heavyweight Champion Evander Holyfield scouting some of the fighters that he was going to sign, or trying to sign to his stable of great fighters.
The Boxing Hall of Famer worked with some of the greatest names in the fight game, including heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor, Mark Breland, Tyrell Biggs, Mike McCallum, Rocky Lockridge, Johnny Bumphus, Livingstone Bramble, Bobby Czyz, Vinny Pazienza, Darrin Van Horn, Michael Moorer, John John Molina, Zab Judah, Vernon Forrest, David Tua and Andrew Golota.
I had the great opportunity to sit with Lou (and Spike Lee *see photo below) at the Olympic Games to watch some of the bouts. It was exciting and interesting to hear his colourful commentary of the fighters, their styles, their strengths and weaknesses through the eyes of a legend in the boxing world.
Above picture watching the fights at the 1992 Olympic Summer Games in Barcelona, Spain with legendary boxing trainer / manager Lou Duva and actor movie producer Spike Lee.
My Dad Cosimo Filane met Lou at the USA Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions and the two of them being Italian really hit it off. A few months after the tournament, the phone rings and my mother answers it. She comes back to the Kitchen and yells up the stairs for my Dad... Coe.. there is a LOU DUVA on the phone for you. I almost fell off the chair I was sitting on. I ran and grabbed the phone to say hello and talk to Lou while my Dad made his way to the phone.
The two talked for a while, Lou was trying to get one of the Canadian Boy's phone number to try and convince them to turn pro with him. This Canadian fighter was my teammate and 2000 Olympian Mark Simmons. Mark was also at the Golden Gloves with my brother Gerry as well, and Mark caught the attention of Lou. He could be the next Great white Heavyweight Hope.
Thoughts and prayers go out to Lou's family and all the boxing community who he helped inspire and guide.
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