Under his leadership Main Events promoted such notable champions as Evander Holyfield, Lennox Lewis, Pernell Whitaker, Meldrick Taylor, Arturo Gatti, Vinny Pazienza, Mark Breland and many others, who were introduced to the boxing world in a monthly series of bouts televised from Ice World in Totowa, New Jersey.
He married Kathy Duva, the current Main Events CEO.
He first gained prominence in the boxing world through the 1981 promotion of the Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Thomas Hearns welterweight championship fight, which grossed $40 million ($130 million today) in pay-per-view and closed circuit revenue.
After the 1984 Olympics, Duva successfully signed many of the competitors there, which helped to establish Main Events as a premier promoter.
Duva's career ended early, when he died due to a brain tumor at the age of 44.