South Jersey Roots Fuel Undefeated Heavyweight Showdown

Atlantic City has a long history with the sport of boxing, with World Heavyweight Champions like Mike Tyson and Larry Holmes fighting there in the 1980s, while Boxing Legends such as Evander Holyfield, and George Foreman fighting in Atlantic City during the 1990s.

But ever since Lennox Lewis defeated Shannon Briggs to retain the WBC heavyweight title in 1998, there have been very few significant heavyweight fights in Atlantic City.

Outside of John Ruiz winning the Interim WBA Heavyweight Title (2003), Wladimir Klitschko winning the NABF and vacant NABO heavyweight titles (2005), and the draw that Hasim Rahman vs James Toney ended in 2006, there have been very few significant heavyweight fights in Atlantic City.

20 years later, History is being made with two South Jersey Heavyweight Boxers

For Margate's own Larry Goldberg, the vision was to bring action-packed, club boxing-style shows back to Atlantic City. With Boxing Insider Promotions, Goldberg had been putting together successful shows in New York City, which is why he was named the 2024 NYSHOF Promoter of the Year.

On Saturday, June 13th will be a history-making night for Boxing in Atlantic City. Two Undefeated Heavyweight Fighters who are both graduates from South Jersey High Schools go head-to-head. Larry Goldberg joined The Sports Bash with Mike Gill on 973 ESPN to talk about what makes this matchup so unique:

"Both of them are looking to use the other one as a stepping stone, and to make a statement, and to move on to the next part of their career. This is the kind of fight that is virtually impossible to make at any level of boxing. - The fact is you got two guys who are looking at each other with complete disrespect of the other's skills....So you've got two strong-willed guys that are coming into Atlantic City, and they are (fighting) for real."

While Josh Popper (7-0) has insisted that he has "no beef" with his opponent, he made it very clear when he spoke with Josh Hennig on 973 ESPN South Jersey that he believes it is beyond a fact that Bruce Seldon Jr. has never faced a fighter like "The Hammer":

"He hasn't seen a guy that can do anything I can do. I feel like my biggest attribute is my ability to box: my footwork, my use of my outside boxing, my jab, and a lot of things that I haven't even put on camera yet. My ability to fight on the inside, I love fighting on the inside.

"I already know he's going to try, and bring it to me on the inside (but) he has another thing coming....There's nothing that I can do that he has seen in any of his recent opponents. And I'm sure he's going to want to say the same thing - I have the ability to set up all my shots. I do have more power than any of his opponents. So he's going to get to feel my power. I know he has power himself, but we're going to see who has more power that night. And I'm betting on it that it's going to be me."

Bruce Seldon Jr. (8-0) has taken a different road to becoming an undefeated heavyweight boxer compared to his opponent on Saturday, June 13th. With no amateur fights before turning pro, Seldon Jr has worked with his coaches to evolve from fight to fight. He told Josh Hennig on 973 ESPN that he will bring something new to the ring this weekend:

"I'm bringing a Bruce that no one has seen yet to be honest. We all know I'm a pressure fighter. you know what I'm saying? I'm I'm the type of fighter that's looking for the knockout....But we're also learning to box, you know, take our time, set things up, not just going there on some savage swinging (only) trying to get my opponent out there.

"(I am really) trying to set him up (because) at the end of the day, boxing is chess, not checkers. So (I am) really going in there with a game plan, and seeing what my opponent is coming with and, you know, making the right adjustments, listening to my team, listening to my coach, and actually utilizing the things that they see."

Seldon Jr vs Popper is not the only matchup featuring regional boxers on Saturday, June 13th:

*Pleasantville High School Graduate Julio Sanchez III (4-1) is looking for his fifth win inside the Tropicana Atlantic City Showroom in a Super Lightweight Bout.
*Active Duty US Air Force Damian Tinnerello (5-0) is stationed in South Jersey and looks to continue his unbeaten streak in a Super Welterweight Fight.
*Winner of three consecutive National Junior Golden Gloves titles, Kahshad Elliott (7-0) is from Plainfield, New Jersey, and will be fighting his second straight boxing bout in Atlantic City.
*Daiyaan Butt (20-4) is a Temple University Graduate, and still lives/trains in Philadelphia. He is scheduled for an eight-round fight at Super Lightweight.

Tickets are still available at ticketmaster.com for this action-packed fight night, and Hanging with Hennig will be broadcasting live on location inside Tropicana Atlantic City, 12-3pm on 973 ESPN South Jersey. This Saturday Night's event is the 8th boxing fight night presented by Boxing Insider Promotions inside the Tropicana Showroom since May 2024.