Erie boxing legend Lou Bizzarro, who fought Roberto Duran for a world title, dies at 78

Lou Bizzarro, whose World Boxing Association lightweight title fight against Roberto Duran at the Erie County Fieldhouse 50 years ago ranks among the all-time events in local sports history, died Oct. 15 at age 78.

Ernie Bizzarro, another member of Erie's first family of boxing, confirmed his uncle's death to the Erie Times-News. He said Lou Bizzarro died of a heart attack at his niece's Millcreek Township home.

More than 3,000 fans packed the former fieldhouse for the May 23, 1976, bout between Bizzarro, the challenger, and Duran, who was making his eighth title defense.

Duran, a 2007 International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee, won by a technical knockout with one second left in the 14 th round.

Bizzarro retired in 1982 with a professional record of 31-2. He was enshrined in the Erie Sports Hall of Fame in 1988.

This is a developing story that the Erie Times-News will continued to follow.

Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com . Follow him on X @ETNcopper.