Mike DeLisa

Firpo Entertainment Company
Author, Attorney (Non-Entertainment), Director and Producer

Farmingville, New York

Member Since:
January 2015

Last online:
> 2 weeks ago

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About Mike

Brooklyn-born Mike DeLisa has been a storyteller his entire life. He had a typical childhood--he enjoyed sports, watched films and television, and read comic books by the ton. The difference? DeLisa saved his baseball cards, sports newspapers, comic books, and other ephemera.That collection, now grown immeasurably large, served him well and forms the core of his uniqueapproach to history and the stories he tells.

For over a decade DeLisa's boxing research has been made available through his web portal, The Cyber Boxing Zone (). Over that time he has come to be recognized as one of boxing's foremost experts.

DeLisa worked as a historical consultant in the film, "Cinderella Man," directed by Ron Howard. DeLisa spent two years researching Braddock's life and boxing during the Great Depression for his book Cinderella Man (Milo Books, 2005), which landed on bookshelves about the same time as the film. Prior to that book he co-authored, Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage 1876-1976, published by Arcadia Press. He has published articles in leading boxing periodicals such as Ring, Boxing Digest, and World Boxing.

DeLisa produced, wrote, and directed the award-winning documentary, "The SuperFight: Marciano vs. Ali," which has also served as the inspiration for Sylvester Stallone's film, "Rocky Balboa(Rocky VI)". He also produced the award-winner, "Out of Ali's Shadow: The Larry Holmes Story".

In addition, his work has contributed to such books and films as: "Rocky Balboa" (2007), Stallone's last installment of that series; "Unforgivable Blackness," the Ken Burns documentary; several editions of The Boxing Register by J. Roberts and A. Skutt; By George by Ed McCoy; A Fair Fight by L. Toulmin; A Man Among Men by Kelly Nicholson; Charley Burley by Harry Otty; Azucar y Chocolate by Enrique Encinosa; and Boston's Boxing Heritage and Black Genesis, both by Kevin Smith.

DeLisa graduated from St. John's University School of Law, where he was the Research Editor of the Law Review. He entered private practice following service as law clerk to the Chief Judge of the United States Court of International Trade. His international legal experience and his knowledge of Spanish led him to Venezuela where he ran a cigar manufacturing company for ten years. DeLisa has authored an encyclopedia on boxing, due out in 2015, and is developing several film projects. Meanwhile he continues to add to his extensive and rare collection of comic books,rare cartoons, sports magazines and artwork. He divides his time between Long Island, NY and Costa Rica.

Contact info: 516.305.2639 - email mdelisa@

Credits & Appearances:

● Producer & writer: Club DeLisa: The Nightclub that defied Jim Crow (In pre-production; http://www.clubdelisa.net)

● Author: The Total Boxing Encyclopedia (TBA, 2015)

● Author: Who Lies There? A Compendium of Boxing Obituaries (Firpo Press 2008)

● Producer: Out From Ali's Shadow: The Larry Holmes Story, winner Best Sports Documentary, NY Film & Video Festival (Nov 2006)

● Producer & Director: The Super Fight: Marciano vs. Ali (Mackinac Media, 2005), winner, Screencraft award, best feature documentary, NY Film & Video Festival (Nov 2005)

● Producer: Cinderella Man: The Real Jim Braddock Story (Rigel Entertainment, 2005)

● Consultant: Cinderella Man (Imagine Entertainment, 2005), directed by Ron Howard

● Author: Cinderella Man (Milo Books, 2005) (published in USA, Japan, Italy, and Great Britain)

● Author: Philadelphia's Boxing Heritage 1876-1976, (Arcadia Press, 2002)

● Appearances: CNN, ESPN, numerous radio programs; serves as color commentator for Battle Zone Boxing on NESN

Unique traits: Fluent in Spanish

Gender:
Male

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Photos

Working on the Club DeLisa doc -- this will be a good one!

Credits

The Vault Presents: The Super Fight (2015 - 2016)
Documentary by Harry Swartout historian Podcast about the Marciano-Ali Computer Fight
Ã�ï¿½Ã¯Â¿Â½rkenen Sur (2015)
Documentary historian Made for TV Documentary
Out from Ali's Shadow: The Larry Holmes Story (2006)
Video by Evan Grant (Documentary) Producer Larry Holmes is undeniably one of the greatest champions in heavyweight history. Yet despite his accomplishments, Holmes never managed to escape the presence of the beloved Muhammad Ali. This documentary sheds light upon the man and brings the legacy of Holmes "Out From Ali's Shadow." Written by Valerie Nicholas
The Super Fight: Marciano vs. Ali (2005)
Video by Mike DeLisa (Documentary and Sport) Producer, Director
Cinderella Man: The Real Jim Braddock Story (2005)
Video by John Preston (Documentary) Producer, Self Fighting during the Depression Era America, Jim Braddock became not only a boxing icon, but a symbol of hope and perseverance. This documentary includes interviews with boxing historians and boxers alike to reveal the impact Jim Braddock had on the sport and the American spirit. Written by Joseph Ruggieri
Cinderella Man (2005)
Film by Ron Howard (Biography, Drama and Sport) Miscellaneous Crew During the Great Depression, a common-man hero, James J. Braddock--a.k.a. the Cinderella Man--was to become one of the most surprising sports legends in history. By the early 1930s, the impoverished ex-prizefighter was seemingly as broken-down, beaten-up and out-of-luck as much of the rest of the American populace who had hit rock bottom. His career appeared to be finished, he was unable to pay the bills, the only thing that mattered to him--his family--was in danger, and he was even forced to go on Public Relief. But deep inside, Jim Braddock never relinquished his determination. Driven by love, honor and an incredible dose of grit, he willed an impossible dream to come true. In a last-chance bid to help his family, Braddock returned to the ring. No one thought he had a shot. However Braddock, fueled by something beyond mere competition, kept winning. Suddenly, the ordinary working man became the mythic athlete. Carrying the hopes and dreams of the disenfranchised on his shoulders, ... Written by Sujit R. Varma