Oh boy, that is a hard one, DD. I have been around some Fila people, that had control of their dogs and I would approach their dogs. No doubt they could take their dogs out to a park or Petco. Do they? No, it is hard work and other people are too unpredictable. Can they take them out without them lunging and being a maniac? Yes. Can they keep their Fila from trying to atack someone? Not if that Fila believes there is a true threat.
All that being said, I have watched the other thread about if dogs will protect I believe that it is true, that only a small percentage will bite. Mine has not been tested. However, he has dove through a window to try and get someone that was knocking on the door. As a pup, when we were still trying to socialize, he grabbed a man's hand but spit it out just as quickly. Another time as we were walking out the front door, a meter reader passed about 10ft in front of us. Needless, to say, the ride of my life had just begun. There was no holding him, all I could do is slow him down enough that the guy could run to his truck. I'm still picking rocks out of my butt over that one. Yet, I'm still not sure what he would do if a real bad man showed up.