Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City Featuring New Jersey Fighters

For a 30-year period, Atlantic City was the Fight Capital of the East Coast. Everyone from Prodigies to Champions spent time displaying their skills as Prize Fighters inside the properties that run along the Atlantic City Boardwalk.

The list of great Boxers who have fought in Atlantic City is extensive, but to just name a few:

-Mike Tyson
-Roberto Duran
-Evander Holyfield
-Floyd Mayweather Jr.
-Arturo Gatti
-Bernard Hopkins
-Roy Jones Jr.

But it has been almost a decade since the sport of boxing has an event hosted at Tropicana in Atlantic City. After a seven-year absence, the Tropicana Showroom welcomes back a Boxing Event headlined by one of the top upcoming fighters in South Jersey.

On Saturday, May 11th Boxing Insider Promotions presents a Professional Boxing Event that showcases the future of the sport.  Promoter Larry Goldberg, originally from Margate, put on six boxing events in the state of New York in 2023 and wanted to return to his roots for his next fight card:

"I have been saying that Atlantic City is known for a few things and one of them is Boxing. Boxing has a rich history in Atlantic City; There was an era when there was on a Saturday Night two boxing matches going head to head (or) there would be one (fight card) in the afternoon and then there might be another one the next day" Goldberg told Josh Hennig on 973 ESPN.

"There isn't any consistent Boxing in Atlantic City and we are aiming to change that...We are bringing (to Atlantic City) what we call 'Club Boxing', these are kids on the upswing, these are young fighters and it's going to be good action."

One of those young fighters who will be showcasing his skills at Tropicana Atlantic City on May 11th is Junior Middleweight Justin Figueroa. The Undefeated Fighter from Atlantic City has six knockouts in his eight wins as a Professional Fighter.

Justin "Just In Time" Figueroa joined GameNight with Josh Hennig on 973 ESPN South Jersey and talked about what the boxing fans who come out to Tropicana Showroom on May 11th can expect to see from him in the ring:

"When I go into a fight, I'm looking to win with a spectacular performance, to get a knockout. - I would love to get a knockout victory in front of my people (in Atlantic City)....You're going to see a lot of skill, a lot of composure also. Being a professional (Boxer) with eight fights, I have developed a lot of composure and learned to take my time and pick my shots more."

"So you're going to see very sharp skills, great footwork, great hand speed, power shots, good defense, good placement of my punches. (The audience is) coming in for a great show, good entertainment, I know the crowd is going to be very alive."

Figueroa will be fighting Venezuelan Boxer Antoni Armas in a six-round bout. Even though Armas has a 13-7 record as a Professional Boxer, eight of his 13 wins are by Knockout so this provides a unique test for Figueroa. This should be an action-packed fight on Saturday Night.

Another New Jersey fighter competing at the Saturday, May 11th Boxing Event inside Tropicana Atlantic City is John Leonardo. As an Amateur Boxer, Leonardo won the New Jersey Golden Gloves Title and has a 10-1 record as a Professional Fighter. Coming to Atlantic City from Manalapan Township, Leonardo is scheduled to fight Frank Gonzalez from Tampa Bay, Florida.

Also in the house, as part of the Boxing Insider Promotions show inside the Tropicana Showroom will be a special guest: Boxing Legend and Former Heavyweight Champion Larry Holmes. From 1978 to 1985, Holmes dominated the Heavyweight Division of Boxing and held the title of Heavyweight Champion of the World for over seven years.

Holmes during his Professional Boxing career fought in Atlantic City three times and had a 2-1 record in town. Originally from Easton, Pennsylvania, he defended his title with a TKO Victory over Scott Frank in 1983 but lost the WBA, WBC, and IBF Heavyweight Belts to Mike Tyson in 1988. His final fight in Atlantic City was a Unanimous Decision victory over Ray Mercer in 1992.

Tickets are still available for Boxing's return to Tropicana Atlantic City on Saturday, May 11th. You can purchase tickets at Ticketmaster.com and you can learn more about Saturday's Boxing Card by visiting Boxing Insider Promotions website here.

Over the decades, one of the sports hubs in Atlantic City has been Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall.  Here are some of the biggest sporting events that have been hosted inside the historic arena over the years: