By David Weinberg
Local sports fans have some interesting options this week.
Two of the area’s most popular sports – boxing and lifeguard racing – are staging events on Friday while the South Jersey South Shore Baseball League (SJSSBL) playoffs kick into high gear.
Atlantic City-based promoter Larry Goldberg – a Margate native and Atlantic City High School graduate – will be bringing his second boxing card of the year to Tropicana Atlantic City.
Goldberg’s Boxing Insider Promotions is holding a seven-bout card that includes two local prospects in Atlantic City junior-middleweight Justin Figueroa (9-0, 7 KOs) and Smithville heavyweight Bruce Seldon Jr. (1-0, 1 KO).
Figueroa, a Holy Spirit High School graduate and former Atlantic City lifeguard, will take on Hungary’s Bela Orban (4-9-2, 2 KOs) in a six-round bout. He rebounded from the first knockdown of his career in his last outing to gain a fourth-round stoppage of Antoni Armas (13-8, 8 KOs).
Seldon, an Absegami High School grad, will meet Isaiah Marjheim (1-3, 1 KO), of Sandusky, Ohio, in a four-round fight. Seldon recently made his pro debut with a first-round TKO over Vineland’s Terrick Maven.
In Friday’s main event, New York world-ranked heavyweight Otto Walin (26-2, 14 KOs) will face Nigeria’s Onoriode Ehwarieme (20-4, 19 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
Wallin, a Sweden native, is looking to bounce back from a fourth-round TKO defeat against former world champion Anthony Joshua last December. His only other loss was via decision to former champ Tyson Fury in 2019.
Friday’s card represents a continuation of a minor surge in boxing on the boardwalk in recent years. It is the seventh show to be held in Atlantic City in 2024 and three more are tentatively scheduled. If they go on as planned, the 10 cards would be the most in town since there were 10 in 2018.
Friday’s sports schedule also includes the 54th Dutch Hoffman Memorial Lifeguard Championships in Wildwood.
The race is the first leg of what is considered the “Big Three” of the lifeguard racing season. The Margate Beach Patrol World War II Memorials are scheduled for next Friday, with the South Jersey Championships slated for August 9 in Brigantine.
The Dutch Hoffman’s is one of the most unique competitions because of its range of races. Unlike the Margate Memorials and South Jersey’s – both races have only a doubles row, swim and singles row – the Wildwood race includes eight events: doubles row, men’s and women’s paddleboards, men’s and women’s beach runs, men’s and women’s swim, and singles row.
Avalon will be seeking its third straight win at the Dutch Hoffman’s, but could face challenges from Atlantic City, Brigantine, Margate, Longport, Wildwood Crest and others.
Meanwhile, the eight-team SJSSBL playoffs kick off. The defending champion Margate Hurricanes (19-3) are the top seed, followed by second-seeded Buena Blue Dawgs (17-5), third-seeded Hammonton Hot Shots (17-5) and fourth-seeded Ventnor Baysox (14-8).
Margate is led by veterans Monny Strickland and Eric Fitzgerald. Strickland led the Hurricanes with a .395 batting average while Fitzgerald was among the league leaders with four home runs. Pitcher Nick DiEva was 5-1 with a 0.88 ERA during the regular season.
Buena won 12 of its last 13 games and led the league in runs scored. Jimmy Hallman led the league with a .500 batting average and tied for the top spot in home runs with five. Garrett Musey also had five homers and led the league with 20 RBIs. Pitching ace Xavier Cortez was 6-0 with a 0.48 ERA.
Eagles training camp begins
One of the most highly anticipated seasons in Philadelphia Eagles history kicks off this week when the team opens training camp at the NovaCare Complex in Philly.
The Birds are seeking to bounce back from a disappointing end to least season, which saw them lose six of the last seven regular-season games and suffer a first-round playoff loss to Tampa Bay.
New offensive coordinator Kellen Moore takes over the reins of a dynamic offense featuring quarterback Jalen Hurts, new running back Saquon Barkley and wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The big question mark on offense is up front, where Cam Jurgens will take over at center for retired Jason Kelce.
Defensively, new coordinator Vic Fangio takes over a unit that stumbled down the stretch last season. Young defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis will be trying to make up for the loss of standout Fletcher Cox, who also retired.
Top draft picks Quiyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean and newcomer Isaiah Rogers figure to get major roles in the secondary with veteran cornerback Darius Slay and safeties C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Given their depth and talent, anything less than a NFC East title and berth in the NFC Championship game would be viewed as a disappointment.
NFL local update
A number of former Cape-Atlantic League high school players will be entering NFL training camps with other teams this week.
DB Max Melton (Cedar Creek High School) is starting his rookie season with Arizona after getting drafted in the second round by the Cardinals. Older brother Bo Melton (Cedar Creek) is starting his third NFL season with the Packers. S/LB Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) is entering his third season with the Cowboys. RB Isiah Pacheco (Vineland) is in his third season with the Chiefs. OL J.D. DiRenzo (St. Joseph-Hammonton) is in his second season with the Panthers. LB Yvondy Rigby (Egg Harbor Township) is trying to make the Ravens roster as an undrafted rookie free agent.
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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