By David Weinberg
It looks like the boxing drought at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall’s main arena may finally be ending.
According to Ringmagazine.com, negotiations are being finalized for a welterweight unification fight between IBF champion Jaron “Boots” Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) and WBA king Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) in Atlantic City on April 12.
If it happens, the bout would be the first boxing event held Boardwalk Hall’s main arena in over a decade. The last fight there occurred on Nov. 8, 2014, when Sergey Kovalev earned a 12-roud, unanimous decision over Bernard Hopkins in a light-heavyweight unification fight.
Boardwalk Hall can seat around 12,000 for boxing and it would not be surprising to see every seat filled. Ennis, a Philadelphia native, has a huge fan base that would have no problem making the 45-mile trek to the boardwalk.
Over 14,000 fans watched him gain a fifth-round TKO over David Avanyesan at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia last July 13 and another 11,000 saw him register a 12-round, unanimous decision over Karen Chukhadzhian last November 9.
If it happens, this would be would be Ennis’ fourth bout in Atlantic City. In his last outing there on July 8, 2023, he registered a 10th-round TKO over Roiman Villa at Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Ballroom.
Stanionis, from Lithuania, would be making his Atlantic City debut. In his last fight, he earned a 12-round, unanimous decision over previously unbeaten Gabriel Maestre in Las Vegas on May 4.
Ennis-Stanionis would be streamed worldwide by DAZN.
Boardwalk Hall was once home to some of boxing’s biggest events. Former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, George Foreman and Lennox Lewis all staged epic fights inside the stately arena.
It later became known as the home of the late Arturo Gatti, who had nine straight fights there from 2003-2007 in front of sellout crowds.
Former middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik then became a top draw there. Busloads of fans from Pavlik’s hometown of Youngstown, Ohio saw him fight Jermain Taylor, Gary Lockett, Hopkins and Sergio Martinez there between 2007 and 2010.
Since Main Events promoter Kathy Duva brought Kovalev-Hopkins there 11 years ago, however, all the boxing events there have been held in the smaller Ballroom.
Speaking of boxing, Atlantic City promoter Larry Goldberg of Boxing Insider Promotions will is scheduled to have his first card of the year on March 22 at Tropicana Atlantic City. Smithville heavyweight Bruce Seldon, Jr. (4-0, 3 KOs), 30, son of former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, is scheduled to be on the card.
Seldon, an Absegami High School graduate, is one of three local undefeated boxers, along with Atlantic City junior middleweight Justin Figueroa (11-0, 9 KOs) and Pleasantville lightweight Francisco Rodriguez (6-0, 6 KOs).
Rodriguez, a 20-year-old Pleasantville High grad, registered a first-round TKO over Nicaragua’s Ulises Caraval (5-19, 3 KOs) last Saturday at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena.
Interestingly, Rodriguez also competes for the Philadelphia Smoke in the Team Combat League, compiling an 8-4 record in 12, one-round bouts.
Eagles headed to NFC Championship game
Last Sunday’s 28-22 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, combined with the Washington Commanders’ 45-31 upset over the top-seeded Detroit Lions last Saturday, means the Eagles will host the Commanders in the NFC Championship game Sunday at 3 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles will be looking to reach the Super Bowl – it’s being held in New Orleans February 9 – for the second time in three seasons. In 2022, the Birds lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII after beating the San Francisco 49ers 31-7 in the NFC Championship game.
This marks Washington’s first trip to the conference championship game in 33 seasons. Back in the 1991 season, they beat the Atlanta Falcons 41-10, then went on to win Super Bowl XXVI with a 37-24 victory over the Buffalo Bills behind coach Joe Gibbs and quarterback Mark Rypien.
The Eagles and Commanders split their regular-season series this year 1-1. Eagles running back Saquon Barkley ran for two touchdowns in a 26-18 Eagles win at the Linco on November 14. The Commanders answered with a thrilling, 36-33 victory on December 26.
Trailing 27-14 after three quarters, the Commanders outscored the Eagles 22-6 in the fourth quarter. Rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels threw a 9-yard TD pass to wide receiver Jamison Crowder with six seconds left in regulation to clinch the victory.
The winner Sunday will face the winner of the AFC Championship game between Kansas City and Buffalo in Kansas City.
That game features two players from Cape-Atlantic League schools in Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco and Bills defensive tackle Austin Johnson.
Pacheco, a Vineland High School grad, rushed for 310 yards and a TD in seven games for the Chiefs after missing 10 regular-season games with an ankle injury.
He ran for 18 yards on five carries in a 23-14 win over the Houston Texans in last week’s divisional round.
Johnson, a St. Augustine Prep grad from Galloway Township, had two tackles for the Bills in their 27-25 win over the Baltimore Ravens last Sunday. He has 19 tackles on the season to go with the first two interceptions of his nine-year NFL career.
Johnson’s in his first season with the Bills after previous stops with the Tennessee Titans (2016-19), New York Giants (2020-21) and Los Angeles Chargers (2022-23).
