By David Weinberg
Atlantic City continued its minor resurgence in professional boxing in 2024.
The boardwalk was host to 10 cards at six different venues – ACX1 Studios in the Pier Shops at Caesars, Bally’s Atlantic City, Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall’s Adrian Phillips Ballroom, Resorts Atlantic City, and Tropicana Atlantic City. That marked Atlantic City’s busiest year for boxing since it also hosted 10 cards in 2018.
Some of the properties brought boxing back after lengthy hiatuses. Resorts hadn’t had fights in its iconic Superstar Theatre in 11 years before promoter Manny Rivera brought a show there on Sept. 27 in conjunction with the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame induction ceremonies.
Resorts was once a staple on the local boxing scene. It actually hosted the first casino card there on November 4, 1978, when Atlantic City promoter Frank Gelb held a card featuring the late Howard Davis Jr. and the late Richie Kates.
The Tropicana ended a seven-year dry spell for boxing when Margate promoter Larry Golderg staged the first of three cards there on May 11.
The Pier at Caesars hadn’t held a boxing event in nine years before Pleasantville welterweight Anthony Young headlined a show at ACX1 Studios last Nov. 24.
Another significant dry spell will be ending this year when IBF welterweight champion Jaron “Boosts” Ennis (33-0, 29 KOs) and WBA king Eimantas Stanionis (15-0, 9 KOs) square off at Boardwalk Hall’s main arena on April 12.
Boardwalk Hall was home to some of the best fights and fighters over the course of 30 years. Capacity crowds filled the stands to see legends and champions such as Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield, George Foreman, Arturo Gatti and Bernard Hopkins.
However, Ennis-Stanionis will be the first fight in the main arena in 11 years, since Hopkins lost a 12-round decision to then-light-heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev there on Nov. 11, 2014.
Ennis-Stainois is among three fights already scheduled for 2025.
The year kicks off for Atlantic City boxing on March 8, when promoter Alex Barbosa is scheduled to have a card at Hard Rock Atlantic City. Goldberg returns to the Trop on March 22 with a show featuring Atlantic City super-welterweight Justin Figueroa (11-0, 9 KOs) and Smithville heavyweight Bruce Seldon Jr. (4-0, 3 KOs). In addition, Pleasantville welterweight Julio Sanchez III is scheduled to make his pro debut on that card.
Before the first punch is thrown in 2024, however, let’s highlight the fights, fighters and other people who helped make 2024 such a terrific year for boxing.
Local Fighter of the Year: Thomas LaManna (38-5-1, 17 KOs). The Millville middleweight only fought once last year, but earned a big victory. He posted a third-round knockout over Juan Carlos Abreu to gain the vacant WBA gold title and possibly set the stage for another world title shot later this year.
Local Prospect of the Year: Bruce Seldon Jr. (4-0, 3 KOs). Seldon, son of former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, turned pro in 2024 without the benefit of an amateur career. The Absegami High School graduate made his debut June 15 with a first-round knockout over Terrick Maven at the Trop and followed it up with three more wins, including two more KOs. (Runnersup: Atlantic City super-welterweight Justin Figueroa, Pleasantville bantamweight Francisco Rodriguez).
Trainer of the Year: Julio Sanchez II. Sanchez, who heads the boxing program at the Pleasantville Rec Center, has overseen Seldon’s development and also worked Young’s corner.
Managers of the Year: Jim Kurtz/David Dubinsky. Kurtz, a Buena Vista Township resident and Holy Spirit graduate, and Dubinsky have enjoyed success as co-managers for DKO Boxing. Seldon Jr. and Sanchez III are among their clients, along with world-ranked contenders such as junior-lightweights Edward Vazquez and William Foster (18-2).
Promoter of the Year: Larry Goldberg, Boxing Insider Promotions. Goldberg, a Margate native and Atlantic City High School graduate, came back to his boxing roots and held three cards in 2024 at the Tropicana, starting with a show on May 11. (Runnersup: Danny Garcia/Mike Farrell, Manny Rivera, Hard Hitting Promotions.
MMA update: Atlantic City has always been viewed as a popular venue for mixed martial arts and 2024 was no exception.
The UFC returned to town for the first time in six years on March 30, 2024 with UFC Fight Night at Boardwalk Hall. Women’s flyweight contender Manon Fiorot gained a five-round, unanimous decision over Erin Blanchfield in the main event before an announced crowd of 12,198.
Ring of Combat continued its residency in Atlantic City with four cards at the Trop in 2024. Vineland-based Cage Fury Fighting Championships (CFFC), led by president Rob Haydak, also considers Atlantic City as its home base. CFFC held four MMA cards at Hard Rock in 2024.
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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