Duva is trying to put new life in local boxing scene

PORTSMOUTH

The man at the head of the conference table needed no introduction, but he introduced himself anyway.

"I'm Lou Duva," he said. "I'm in boxing. Boxing is my life."

So began a meeting at the Renaissance Portsmouth Hotel in June. The topic: how to breathe some life into a local boxing scene that hasn't had much of a pulse since Pernell Whitaker last fought here nearly 15 years ago.

Duva, a Hall of Fame trainer and manager whose career harkens back to the days of Joe Louis and Rocky Marciano, was a frequent visitor to South Hampton Roads then, working with Whitaker at Wareing's Gym in Virginia Beach.

Still in the fight game at 86, he'll be back in town this weekend for "Fight for Life: Boxing in the Ballroom," a six-bout card Saturday night at the Renaissance in Olde Towne. Bobby Jordan Jr. (4-0) a light heavyweight from Norfolk, will face Willis Lockett (10-5-4) of Tacoma Park, Md. in the main event. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Police Athletic League.

Duva is working with promoter Rodney Hanks, a Portsmouth police officer, as a consultant for the event. His advice to Hanks, a first-time promoter, was simple: "If you want to do this again, you've got to come up with a good one this time."

Since Whitaker last fought here in 1994, South Hampton Roads has been a tough place for a promoter to make a buck. The last major event in the area was a bout between former heavyweight champion Larry Holmes, then 52; and Eric "Butterbean" Esch at Scope in 2002.

Promoters since then have been either all talk - one promised to bring Mike Tyson to town - or strictly small-scale. Recent cards at the Norfolk Masonic Temple have drawn just a couple hundred fans.

The Renaissance can accommodate 1,200, and Hanks hopes the ballroom setting will itself be an attraction. The key to getting them back, Duva said, is giving them competitive fights. State boxing commissioner Dave Holland agreed.

"This show is going to be the foundation of anything that's done here," Holland said.

"If you don't lay a solid foundation, you'll sink."

Other local fighters on the card are cruiserweight William "The Storm" Bailey of Chesapeake and lightweight Stephen Alexander of Norfolk. Miguel Gonzalez, a lightweight from Cleveland who won USA Boxing's 2008 U.S. Future Stars National Championship, will make his pro debut.

Doors open at 7 p.m. Fights begin at 8 p.m.

Ed Miller, 446-2372 ed.miller@pilotonline.com