Wrongfully convicted Dewey Bozella wins professional boxing debut at age 52
A remarkable and inspirational story about a man who spent 26 years of is life in Sing Sing for a crime he didn’t commit. This was his first, last, and only professional fight. Talk about a man with some heart. Kudos to you, Mr. Bozella. I’m so glad your dream finally came true—you deserve it.
More details about his story at ABC News: Dewey Bozella: Wrongfully Convicted Man Now Free to Box
[…] Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Bozella was 9 years old when he witnessed his father beat his pregnant mother to death.
One brother later was stabbed and killed. And another brother was shot in the head. Young Dewey fell into a life of petty crime.
He moved to upstate Poughkeepsie, N.Y., hoping to turn things around. He took up boxing and trained at a gym run by former heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson. He showed promise. But trouble soon came knocking. […]
Dewey Bozella’s win at Staples is old news, and big news
Although it doesn’t upstage Bernard Hopkins’ title defense in main event, Bozella’s four-round victory over Larry Hopkins (no relation) on undercard is compelling for one key reason: He’s 52 years old.It was more than three hours before the main event at Staples Center, and Dewey Bozella may have already produced the best moment.
The sole spotlight was to be on Bernard Hopkins, who was to defend his world light-heavyweight title against Chad Dawson. Hopkins’ journey as the oldest fighter to win a title, at age 46 supplanting George Foreman by beating Jean Pascal in Montreal on May 21, was to be the big headline.
But the promoters also liked the Bozella story line — who wouldn’t? — and put him in the ring at 5 p.m. against a winless (0-3) opponent, Larry Hopkins (no relation). Normally, the fourth fight on a nine-fight card is merely casual entertainment for the early arrivals, a space filler while people find the beer stands.
But there was a little more going on with Bozella.
First, he is 52, or 22 years older than his opponent. Also, it was well-known that this was to be his first, last and only fight. He left prison two years ago after spending 26 years there, having been convicted of murder in the death of a 92-year-old woman in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., who had just returned home from bingo.
Bozella had maintained his innocence throughout. Twice, the parole board offered to release him if he admitted to the murder. Both times, Bozella declined, saying he would not admit to something he didn’t do. […]