Lou DiBella
Louis John "Lou" DiBella, Jr. (born May 17, 1960) is an American boxing promoter and television/film producer. He is Founder and CEO of DiBella Entertainment based in New York City. DiBella currently promotes world-rated fighters Regis Prograis, Tevin Farmer, Sergiy Derevyanchenko, Ivan Baranchyk, Richard Commey, George Kambosos Jnr, as well as rising prospects Oleksandr Teslenko and US Olympian Charles Conwell, among many others, like Willie Nelson (boxer) also called Willie "The Great" Nelson who beat world champion Tony Harrison and several top prospects. Lou is an ardent supporter of women's boxing and his expanding roster of female fighters includes world champions Amanda Serrano and Alicia Napoleon as well as Heather Hardy, Shelly Vincent, Raquel Miller and Tiara Brown. DiBella also promoted events that Deontay Wilder, the former WBC heavyweight champion, fights on.
Lou DiBella | |
|---|---|
 Boxing promoter Lou DiBella, in 2010 | |
| Born | May 17, 1960 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Boxing promoter |
Past boxers represented by DiBella Entertainment include former WBC Middleweight champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez, former middleweight world champions Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins, former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi,[1] former WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto and "Jo Jo" Dan.
Education and career
DiBella is a graduate of Regis High School (New York City). As of May 5, 2017, DiBella also owns the Tampa Bay Rays Baseball AA Southern League affiliate, the Montgomery Biscuits. The Biscuits' home field is Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium.[2]
Producer
DiBella expanded his boxing empire producing television content and films. In 2007, DiBella produced the documentary, "Magic Man," which depicted the life of Paulie Malignaggi and his rise in the world of boxing.[3] The documentary had its television premiere on Showtime and was later aired in the United Kingdom leading up to the Malignaggi vs. Lovemore Ndou fight, where Malignaggi retained his title.
In 2008, DiBella added the credit of Executive Producer to his list of accomplishments with the 2009 film Love Ranch starring Academy Award winners Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci. The film was directed by Academy Award Winner Taylor Hackford.[4]
DiBella was also the associate producer on the film "The Fighter", which was released in 2010 and based on the life of former DBE fighter "Irish" Micky Ward, starring Mark Wahlberg as Ward and Christian Bale as his trainer and brother Dickie Ecklund. The film won two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor and Best Supporting Actress.
DiBella then established the television and film production company, BK Blu. In its first year, the company premiered the film "TAPIA" at the LA Film Festival then later, premiered the documentary "MARAVILLA" at the Tribeca Film Festival, premiered the documentary "HARDY" at the DOC NYC Film Festival, and acquired the rights to a number of television and film projects currently in development. The "TAPIA" documentary, which was co-executive produced by Lou DiBella and Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson, premiered on HBO in December 2014.
Awards/Recognitions
Over the years, DiBella has won numerous awards and recognitions, including the Thurman Munson Copororate Hero Award and Ring 10's Steve Acunto Lifetime Dedication Award.
In 2014, DiBella was inducted into the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame, and in 2015, he was inducted into Connecticut's Boxing Hall of Fame.
The Boxing Writers Association of America has given DiBella the James A. Farley Award for Honesty and Integrity in 2015 and the Sam Taub Award for Excellence in Broadcasting, for his outstanding run as Senior Vice President of HBO Sports, in 2018.
References
- Colin Linneweber. "Guido Brooklynite Paulie Malignaggi Ditches Promoter Lou DiBella". Bleacher Report.
- Staff, WSFA 12 News. "Montgomery Biscuits officially have new owners". Retrieved 2017-05-05.
- "Showtime To Air Malignaggi Documentary "Magic Man"".
- "Debut finally here for 'Love Ranch'". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
