Atlantic City, NJ, boxers Figueroa, Rodriguez in action Saturday

Unbeaten Atlantic City junior-middleweight Justin Figueroa and Atlantic City junior-lightweight Sisco Rodriguez are among four local fighters scheduled to be in action Saturday night at Showboat Hotel Atlantic City.

Figueroa (2-0, 2 KOs) and Rodriguez (0-0) will be joined by Atlantic City lightweight Miguel Garcia and Vineland heavyweight Terrick Maven (0-1) on the first card of the 2023 boxing season in Atlantic City.

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Figueroa, a 2017 Holy Spirit High School graduate and an Atlantic City lifeguard, will be taking on Philadelphia's Rahiem Cooke (1-3, 0 KOs) in a four-round bout. Figueroa, who is trained by Arnold Robbins and John Gibbons, scored a first-round over Tavaris Smith in his pro debut last August 20 at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall and notched a third-round TKO over Jeremiah Kendrick last November 12 at Showboat.

Rodriguez, also an Atlantic City native, will be making his pro debut in a four-round bout against Irvington's Kyle Massoth (0-3).

Rodriguez, who is trained by Will Alejandro, enjoyed an outstanding amateur career, finishing second at the USA Nationals at 130 pounds.

Garcia is also making his pro debut. He will fight fellow ring rookie Christian Castro, of Red Bank. Maven will be seeking his first pro win in a four-rounder against debuting Daniel Bean. Maven suffered a first-round knockout loss to Christopher Arnold on September 29, 2021.

Six other fights are scheduled for the card, which is being promoted by R&B Promotions. In the main event, Puerto Rican bantamweight contender Emmanuel Rodriguez (12-0, 7 KOs) will meet Sharone Carter Jr. (13-5, 3 KOs) in an eight-round bout. Rodriguez initially suffered his first loss via decision to Manuel Manzo at Showboat last August, but the result was later changed to a no-contest.

Tickets range from $60 to $200 and be purchased through R&B's web site (randbpromo.com).

PUNCHLINES: Boxing is scheduled to return to Atlantic City on March 25 with a card at Boardwalk Hall's Adrian Phillips Ballroom promoted by Millville-based Rising Star Promotions. Atlantic City super-middleweight DeCarlo Perez (19-7-1, 6 KOs) is scheduled to headline the show.

Millville middleweight Thomas LaManna (34-5-1, 14 KOs) will try for his fifth straight win on March 11 in a 10-round fight against Panama's Alberto Mosquera (27-5-2, 16 KOs) at Avanti Palms Resort in Orlando, Florida.

A victory would leave LaManna with the third-most career wins among local boxers who competed in the last 50 years. Former Bridgeton light-heavyweight Richie Kates (44-6, 23 KOs) tops the list, followed by former Atlantic City heavyweight world champion Bruce Seldon (40-8, 36 KOs). He is currently tied with the late Leavander Johnson (34-5-2, 26 KOs), a former lightweight champion from Atlantic City, for third place.