Oheka Castle & Biopic on Boxing Legend Announced

Jan. 13, 2010 - PRLog -- Producer John Edmonds Kozma (Nick Cassavetes' "Kentucky Rhapsody") has announced plans to turn the life of legendary boxing trainer and promoter Lou Duva into a feature film.

"We've seen a lot of great films about fighters in the past," says
Kozma. "Whether about real-life legends like Jake LaMotta or Muhammed
Ali, or fictional characters like Rocky Balboa, Hollywood has always
focused on the guy in the ring. I thought it would be a great slant on
the genre if we told the story through the eyes of someone who lived
through it, and observed it, for over 80 years. Lou's literally a
walking history book...and has a million colorful tales to tell."

Duva, now 87, began his boxing career as an amateur fighter in 1932 at
the age of ten. Over the span of the next eight decades, Duva would go
on to promote such groundbreaking bouts as Sugar Ray Leonard/Tommy
Hearns I (at the time the largest grossing non-heavyweight fight in
history, grossing more than $40 million) and handle the development of
such giants as Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Hector "Macho" Camacho,
and Pernell Whittaker. He also ran with such show biz icons as Frank
Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr.

Also on board as producer is Richard O'Sullivan ("The Teacher," "One
Night With You") with noted playwright and boxing historian Daniel
Chernau scripting.

To celebrate the project, Duva and Bang Productions (Kozma's production
company) will come together on February 19 in Huntington, New York for
a celebrity-filled night of boxing and entertainment to benefit the
Elena Melius Foundation.

Dubbed "Hassle at the Castle," the event, originating from the world
famous Oheka Castle on Long Island, will feature female boxer Maureen
Shea (known as "The Real Million Dollar Baby" due to her role in
training Hilary Swank for her performance in that Oscar-winning film)
as well boxing legends Larry Holmes, Gerry Cooney, and Smokin' Joe
Frazier; a fashion show featuring models from the Wilhelmina agency;
and a special musical performance by rock & roll icon Gary "U.S."
Bonds.

Oheka Castle is noted for being the location for such films and TV
shows as Orson Welles' "Citizen Kane," "What Happens in Vegas," and the
current USA network series "Royal Pains." It was recently the site of
pop star Kevin Jonas' wedding to Danielle Deleasa.

To learn more about the event, and to purchase tickets, visit
www.ringsidenow.com