| Lou DiBella | |
|---|---|
| Born | May 17, 1960 Brooklyn, New York |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Boxing promoter |
Louis John DiBella, Jr. (b. 17 May in Brooklyn, New York) is a boxing promoter and television/film producer. He is Founder and CEO of DiBella Entertainment based in New York City. Past and present boxers represented by DiBella Entertainment include current WBC Middleweight champion Sergio Gabriel Martinez, former middleweight world champions Jermain Taylor and Bernard Hopkins, former junior welterweight titlist Paulie Malignaggi [1] and WBC Welterweight champion Andre Berto .
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DiBella is a graduate of Tufts University and Harvard Law School.[2] He founded his own promotional firm, DiBella Entertainment, creating a company that shifts the balance of power from promoters to boxers. He also owns the San Francisco Giants Baseball AA Eastern League affiliate, the Richmond Flying Squirrels, formerly the Connecticut Defenders. The Flying Squirrels home field is in The Diamond (Richmond, Virginia).
In 2006, DiBella made his acting debut playing himself as a boxing promoter in Rocky Balboa. Scenes of the packed arena during his Taylor vs. Hopkins II fight are used in the film during Rocky's fight scene.
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 is the promoter of Sergio Gabriel Martinez, the new middleweight champion.[5]