By Dennis Hayes
The last time Justin “Mr. Atlantic City” Figueroa and Luis Caraballo Ramos met at Tropicana Atlantic City, their fight ended before either boxer could settle the score. On Friday, Nov. 13, they will return to the Showroom for an eight-round rematch that headlines Boxing Insider Promotions’ final card of 2026.
Their March 7 bout was heating up when the fighters became tangled along the ropes and fell to the canvas. Caraballo Ramos was taken from the ring on a stretcher as a precaution, and the New Jersey State Athletic Control Board ruled the fight a no contest because of an accidental foul.
Figueroa (14-0, 11 knockouts), a Holy Spirit High School graduate, will again face Caraballo Ramos (8-10-1, eight knockouts), of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico.
“These guys just did not like each other,” said Larry Goldberg, president of Boxing Insider Promotions. “It was turning into an all-out slugfest, and it never got finished. So we are going to run it back.”
Mr. Atlantic City returns
Figueroa, 27, played football and wrestled at Holy Spirit, graduating in 2017. A former Atlantic City Beach Patrol member, he once envisioned a future in college football before following his father’s passion for boxing.
He initially fought under the nickname “Just in Time,” but Goldberg suggested “Mr. Atlantic City,” a name that reflects the local support behind his unbeaten professional career. In August 2025, Figueroa captured the Junior NABF super welterweight title with a unanimous-decision victory over Jarrod Tennant.
“Larry came home to Atlantic City and sold us his dream,” Figueroa has said of Goldberg. “Nothing was phony about him.”
Caraballo Ramos, nicknamed “Corazón de Oro,” has won all eight of his professional victories by knockout. He was giving Figueroa a competitive fight before their March meeting ended abruptly.
A regional fight card
The Nov. 13 event also features fighters from New Jersey, New York and beyond. Bronx heavyweight George Arias (19-1-1, seven knockouts) meets Joe Jones (16-15-2, 10 knockouts), of Lynchburg, Virginia. John “Bodyshot” Leonardo (13-1-1, six knockouts), of Manalapan Township, faces Kevin Nunez (6-4, three knockouts), of Bayamón, Puerto Rico.
Yonkers fighter Iman Lee (15-0-1, eight knockouts) takes on Dannis Aguero Arias (20-6, 17 knockouts), a Dominican veteran. Harlem’s JJ Alvarez (11-3-1) faces Albany’s Larry Fryers (13-8-1) at 144 pounds, while Brooklyn’s Koby Khalil Williams (8-1, six knockouts) meets Salvatore Di Stefano (4-2, two knockouts), of Palermo, Sicily.
Pleasantville’s Julio Sanchez III (5-1, three knockouts) is scheduled for his first six-round fight against Skyler Bray (3-3-1, three knockouts), of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. Sanchez, who developed his skills through the Pleasantville Recreation Center and appeared in a Boxing Insider amateur showcase, won his March bout in the first round after entering behind the Pleasantville High School drumline.
A promoter’s Atlantic City roots
Goldberg, a Margate native and 1996 Atlantic City High School graduate, has deep ties to the resort. He once worked as a beverage server at Tropicana and remembers slipping away to watch boxing there.
“It’s funny how life works,” Goldberg said. “I used to work at Trop and I would sneak into the fights there. Now I’m promoting my ninth fight there since 2024. The people and the venue are the best for boxing on the East Coast.”
Goldberg founded BoxingInsider.com before moving into fight promotion. He later staged events at Sony Hall in New York City and received Promoter of the Year honors from the New York State Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024.
On May 11, 2024, he brought professional boxing back to the Tropicana Showroom after a seven-year absence. The venue has a long boxing history, including 196 “Tuesday Night Fights” cards promoted by Don Elbaum and Teddy Menas from 1982 to 1986.
Giving local young people a ringside view
Goldberg says his commitment extends beyond professional bouts. Boxing Insider has supported Atlantic City Police Athletic League programs, hosted amateur showcases and distributed complimentary tickets to local children and families, including PAL and Boys & Girls Club participants.
“From sponsoring the AC PAL’s yearly amateur boxing programs to giving out hundreds of free tickets to inner city youth to experience their first night out and allow them to dream big, that’s the best part of doing these events at Tropicana,” Goldberg said. “Boxing in Atlantic City, specifically at the Trop, used to mean something. It’s been great to be part of the comeback these last few years.”
Boxing Insider and Atlantic City PAL have also partnered on the Battle of the Beach Amateur Showcase, with proceeds benefiting youth programs. The first showcase helped PAL raise funds toward qualifying for a $65,000 state grant. PAL honored Goldberg with its Excellence Award last December.
“AC PAL runs one of the best boxing programs in the state,” Goldberg said. “It’s been great working with them on their showcase event. December 5th at the AC PAL is going to be a citywide boxing event. Everyone should come out and support. All the money goes to help the kids of Atlantic City.”
Before the March professional card, Goldberg brought Figueroa and fellow Holy Spirit graduate Josh Popper to their former school for a student assembly.
“It might sound strange, but amateur boxing can save lives,” Goldberg said. “If a boxing ring can become the place where they find their confidence, then we’re doing something meaningful.”
Unfinished business
Friday’s rematch offers Figueroa a chance to close the year with a decisive result in front of his hometown supporters. For Goldberg, it is another opportunity to showcase emerging fighters and introduce Atlantic City youngsters to the sport.
“Many of these fighters will move on to bigger shows in 2027,” Goldberg said.
If you go
What: Boxing Insider Promotions presents Figueroa vs. Caraballo Ramos II, with seven professional bouts
When: Friday, Nov. 13, 2026, at 7 p.m.
Where: The Showroom, third floor, North Tower, Tropicana Atlantic City
Tickets: Available through Ticketmaster
Watch: Free stream on Boxing Insider. Card subject to change.
