Extra Points: Local boxers LaManna, Figueroa in action in A.C. tonight

By DAVID WEINBERG

Thomas LaManna will be performing double duty at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall's Adrian Phillips Ballroom tonight.
LaManna is head of Millville-based Rising Star Promotions, which is staging its second card of the year at the ballroom in association with the Atlantic City Sports Commission. The world-ranked middleweight will also be fighting in the main event of the eight-bout card with a 10-round bout against Mexican veteran Saul Roman.
The fight will serve as a reunion of sorts for LaManna (31-5-1, 13 KOs). He is a staple in Atlantic City, having fought 20 times on the boardwalk. But Saturday's bout against Roman (46-15, 38 KOs) will be his first in the area in four years. His last fight in town was a unanimous decision victory over Somers Point's Mike Arnaoutis at Showboat Hotel on Nov. 11, 2018.
"It's been a while since I've fought here," LaManna said in a statement. "I'm excited to be back. Fighting in front of my loyal fans at such an important venue in a true blessing and provides an added incentive to put on a great show."
Eight bouts are scheduled for the card, which is the third one of 2022 in Atlantic City. The show also features the professional debut of junior-middleweight Justin Figueroa, who is a 2017 Holy Spirit High School graduate and member of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol.
Figueroa, 23, will be taking on Toledo, Ohio's Tavaris Smith (0-5) in a four-rounder that will be the final bout of the evening.
""I'm not going to lie," Figueroa said. "The spotlight is on me and I feel a little bit of anxiety about it. But I've had pressure on me before. I'm used to the spotlight and I have a lot of confidence."
Doors to the Adrian Phillips Ballroom open at 5 p.m. with the first undercard fight scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Tickets are priced from $65 to $200 and are available through Ticketmaster and the Boardwalk Hall box office.
Note: Boxing will be back in town on Friday, Sept. 9, with a SHOBOX: The New Generation card at Bally's Atlantic City. Joseph Adorno (16-1-2, 14 KOs), from Reading, Pennsylvania, will meet Argentina's Hugo Alberto Roldan (21-0-1, 7 KOs) in the 10-round super-lightweight main event.