Three New Jersey Fighters Are Set to Make Their Tropicana Atlantic City Return

The sport of boxing has gone through plenty of changes, good and bad, over the last 50 years. While fighters make more money per fight than they did decades ago, the sport known as the "Sweet Science" is no longer the "king" of the sports world.

In the 21st Century, many young athletes have a plethora of opportunities to play football, basketball, baseball, hockey, tennis, soccer, and golf that offer a ladder to the next level if they earn the shot. But in combat sports, the pathway for aspiring professionals to work their way up the ranks is more complicated.

This is why Boxing Promoters like Larry Goldberg and Boxing Insider Promotions are important because they give combat athletes the stage to show the boxing world they deserve opportunities.

The NYSHOF Promoter of the Year, Goldberg has hosted boxing fight cards in both New Jersey and New York, two states with athletic commisions who have some of the highest combat sports standards in the country.

Boxing Returns To Tropicana Atlantic City in Fall 2026

The last fight night inside the Tropicana Atlantic City Showroom featured four wins by New Jersey boxers, along with TKO victories by Holy Spirit High School Graduate Josh Popper, Plainfield, New Jersey's Kahshad Elliott, and Active-duty United States Air Force member living in Berlin, Damian Tinnerello.

Boxing Insider Promotions Larry Goldberg confirmed to 973 ESPN that rumors circulating online about the next fight night at Tropicana AC will be this November. One of the differences between the past two past boxing events and this upcoming event is that this will be a Friday Night instead of Saturday Night:

"We are excited to be back at Tropicana Atlantic City for the 9th Boxing Insider Promotions show on November 13th, and more shows inside the Tropicana showroom in 2027" Margate's Larry Goldberg told me when I reached him via phone call on Monday. "Bringing club boxing-style shows back to Atlantic City was the vision I had almost 3 years ago, and we have been able to showcase great local fighters here in South Jersey thanks to our work with (New Jersey State Athletic Control Board) Commissioner Larry Hazzard."

Goldberg also confirmed that there will be at least three New Jersey fighters on the fight card with potentially more to be added in the coming weeks:

*Super Bantamweight John Leonardo (Manalapan Township, NJ with 13-1-1 record) returns for his first fight since March 7th after a recent injury delayed his return to action.

*Super Welterweight Justin "Just In Time" Figueroa (Atlantic City, NJ with 14-0-1 record) is back in action after the longest span of time in-between fights of his professional boxing career (8 months).

*Super Lightweight Julio Sanchez III (Pleasantville, NJ with a 5-1 record) is on a four-fight winning streak and is undefeated when fighting in Atlantic City during his pro boxing career.

Sources tell 973 ESPN that multiple potential opponents have turned down opportunities to fight John Leonardo, and there is speculation that professional fighters are choosing easy matchups instead of stepping into the ring against "Body Shots" Leonardo.

Nicknamed "Mr. Atlantic City", Figueroa is one of the most popular boxers in the region. After winning the North American Boxing Federation Junior Super Welterweight Title in 2025, Figueroa has only fought once in 2026, and sources tell 973 ESPN that he is looking forward to getting back into the ring this November.

Pleasantville High School Graduate Julio Sanchez III is a can't-miss boxer who has TKO victories in three of his last four fights.  Undefeated inside the Tropicana Atlantic City showroom, Sanchez III has built a large fan base who turnout to each of his boxing matches in AC.

Boxing Insider Promotions has delivered three of the top five most attended boxing fight nights in the history of the Tropicana Atlantic City Showroom.  These action-packed events are must-see for both combat sports fans, and South Jersey residents who want to support local fighters.

Tickets are on sale now for the next big boxing event in Atlantic City for Friday, November 13th at ticketmaster.com for your opportunity to see some of the best local fighters back in action this fall.