The Advocate - May 2012 - Idaho State Bar - Idaho.gov

Dewey Bozella
Dewey Bozella
2011 ESPN Arthur Ashe Courage Award Winner and Boxer
Arthur Ashe Courage Award Winner & Boxer
“Dewey Bozella represents the power that courage can bring to an individual
despite seemingly insurmountable circumstances that could destroy many a
man,” - John Skipper, ESPN executive vice president
There are times in life when it is easier, or for more than 26 years, he was finally
even Tmore sensible, here to are just times give up. in life This when isn’t it is released years, in he October was finally 2009. released Today, in October Bozella 2009.
a belief held by 2011 easier, Arthur or even Ashe more Courage sensible, devotes Today, his Bozella life to helping devotes others, his life working to helping
Award winner Dewey to just Bozella. give up. The This 2011 isn’t with a others, a non-profit working that with helps a non-profit recently released that helps
ESPY Awards celebrated belief held the by courage 2011 Arthur and Ashe prisoners recently rehabilitate released prisoners back into rehabilitate the world. back
conviction that led Courage Bozella Award to the winner ultimate Dewey He has into also the world. returned He has to boxing also returned as a trainer to boxing
path of Bozella. freedom The after 2011 26 ESPY years Awards of wrongful celebrated to kids as a and trainer aspiring to kids fighters. and aspiring fighters.
imprisonment. the courage and conviction that led Bozella to Less than Less two than years after two a years judge after overturned a judge
Bozella’s the early ultimate life path was of one freedom of hardship after 26 and years of his murder overturned conviction his murder and conviction freed him and from freed
turmoil, wrongful having imprisonment. witnessed his father beat his prison, him Bozella from prison, was honored Bozella was by honored athletes by
pregnant Bozella’s mother to early death life as was a young one of boy. hardship from athletes around from the around world the for world his courage for his courage and
Foster and care turmoil, and life having on the witnessed streets defined his father his beat perseverance and perseverance for the for Arthur the Arthur Ashe Ashe Courage Courage
youth his until pregnant he found mother his calling to death in as the a young sport boy. Award. Award. Past Past recipients recipients of the of the award award include include
of boxing. Foster He care showed and life promise on the streets training defined at his South South African African President President Nelson Nelson Mandela, Mandela,
Floyd youth Patterson’s until he camp found his and calling moved in the from sport of Muhammad Muhammad Ali Ali and and Billie Billie Jean Jean King. King.
Brooklyn boxing. to make He showed a life for promise himself training in upstate at Floyd “Although “Although many many lessons lessons in my in my life life have have been been
New York. Patterson’s He was camp a talented and moved young from Brooklyn fighter to difficult difficult to learn, to learn, I am I am now now in a in position a position to to
and determined make a life for to himself be a good in upstate man. New York. He help help others others based based on on my my experiences experiences and and that
In 1983, was a Bozella’s talented life young took fighter a dramatic and determined turn to that is is worth worth the the world world to to me,” me,” Bozella Bozella said said upon
when be he a was good convicted man. of a murder he did
upon receiving receiving his his award. award.
not commit. In 1983, Sentenced Bozella’s to life 20 took years a dramatic to life turn At the podium, Bozella candidly discusses his
At the podium, Bozella candidly
in Sing when Sing he was prison, convicted Bozella of a murder maintained he did not tragic story of injustice and the perseverance,
discusses his tragic story of injustice and the
his innocence commit. Sentenced and exhausted to 20 years every to appeal. life in Sing courage and faith that led to his long overdue
perseverance, courage and faith that led to his
He was Sing offered prison, Bozella more than maintained four his separate innocence exoneration. His inspiring story takes
long overdue exoneration. His inspiring story
chances and for exhausted an early every release appeal. if he would He was only offered audiences on an emotional rollercoaster as
takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster
admit more guilt than and four show separate remorse, chances but Bozella for an early they struggle with the flawed US justice
as they struggle with the flawed US justice
consistently release refused if he would to accept only admit freedom guilt under and show system that sent an innocent man to prison
system that sent an innocent man to prison for
such conditions. remorse, but Anger Bozella at his consistently imprisonment refused to for most of his life, while warming their hearts
most of his life, while warming their hearts
gave way accept to freedom determination under such and conditions. instead of Anger with Bozella’s unyielding determination and
with Bozella’s unyielding determination and
becoming at his embittered, imprisonment he gave became way to a determination model forgiveness.
forgiveness.
prisoner, and instead earning of his becoming GED, embittered, bachelors he and became Bozella, who recently turned 52, dreams
masters a model degrees, prisoner, working earning as his a GED, counselor bachelors to have Bozella, just one 53 professional years of age, fight. dreamed He met to have
for other and masters prisoners, degrees, and falling working in as love a counselor and
former just heavyweight one professional champion fight. Lennox He met Lewis former
getting for married. other prisoners, Through and it falling all, Bozella in love and during heavyweight some of the champion pre-ESPY Lennox festivities Lewis and during
found getting strength married. and purpose Through through it boxing, all, Bozella told some him the about pre-ESPY this goal. festivities Bozella and quickly told him
becoming found the strength light and heavyweight purpose through champion boxing, added about he had his goal. no intention In October of getting 2011, Bozella’s into
of Sing becoming Sing Prison. the light heavyweight champion of the dream ring with became Lewis. a reality “That as guy he would won his
Unyielding Sing Sing in his Prison. innocence, Bozella never destroy professional me,” he chuckled. boxing debut on the undercard
gave up fighting Unyielding in in or his out principles, of the ring. Bozella He of the Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson
never Bozella lives in Fishkill, NY with his wife of
wrote gave to the up Innocence fighting in or Project out of weekly the ring. in He his match-up at the Staples Center in Los Angeles,
wrote
quest for a ray of hope. Powerful New York 17 years, against Trena. Larry Hopkins by a 4-round unanimous
to the Innocence Project weekly in his quest
law firm, for a ray WilmerHale, of hope. Powerful eventually New York took law on decision. President Barack Obama telephoned
firm,
Bozella’s WilmerHale, case and eventually uncovered took new on evidence Bozella prior to the fight wishing him luck.
Bozella’s case
that exonerated and uncovered him. new After evidence being that in prison exonerated Bozella lives in Fishkill, NY with his wife
him. After being in prison for more than 26 of 17 years, Trena.
2012 Idaho State Bar
Annual Meeting
Keynote Address
The Riverside Hotel
Boise, ID
Suggested
Speech Topics
Sponsored by:
Unbreakable: The Dewey
Bozella Story
IDAHO ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYERS
I A C D L
STANDING TALL FOR THE ACCUSED
Exclusive Representation by Greater Talent Network
437 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10016 (212) 645-4200 www.greatertalent.com info@greatertalent.com
Arrangements for the appearance of Dewey Bozella made through Greater Talent Inc., New York, NY
07-0811