By David Weinberg
The Showroom at Tropicana Atlantic City is considered one of the city’s iconic boxing arenas.
Its reputation started in the 1980s, when promoters Don Elbaum and the late Ted Menas held their legendary “Tuesday Night Fights” there.
The pair hosted an incredible 196 cards at the Trop – 181 were on Tuesday nights – from 1981 to 1986, usually in front of sellout crowds. The series served as the proving ground for many East Coast fighters. Future world champions Maurice Blocker and Simon Brown got their starters there. So did Vineland’s Mario Maldonaldo, who is being inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame later this summer.
“I told the people at the Trop to give me their slowest entertainment night of the week and I’ll turn it into their best,” Elbaum said in an earlier interview. “They picked Tuesday.”
A decade later, Vineland’s Diane Lee Fischer – who also owned a hair salon at the Trop – held a number of successful events at the Showroom, including the city’s first all-female card in 1997.
Now it’s promoter Larry Goldberg’s turn to try to continue the tradition.
Goldberg, an Atlantic City High School graduate and Margate native, staged his second card at the Trop last Saturday with Boxing Insider Promotions and delivered a solid product.
What makes the Showroom so special for boxing is that the cheap seats are the best seats.
While high rollers watched Saturday’s show from the front row, avid fans packed the bleachers on the stage to watch local standouts Bruce Seldon Jr. and Justin Figueroa in action.
“It was just incredible to see and hear so many people cheering for me,” Seldon said.
Both fighters treated their fans to impressive victories.
Seldon (2-0, 2 KOs), an Absegami High School graduate who lives in Smithville, scored a second-round knockout over Isaiah Margheim (1-4), of Sandusky, Ohio.
Figueroa (10-0, 8 KOs), a Holy Spirit High School grad and former Atlantic City lifeguard, stopped Nicaragua’s Freddy Espinosa (10-7, 7 KOs) in the third round.
Both local fighters are taking different paths.
Seldon, son of former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, is a relatively late bloomer at age 29, but has made quick progress.
Under the guidance of Pleasantville trainer Julio Sanchez, he displayed a well-balance repertoire against Margheim, connecting with jabs, body shots and hooks to register three knockdowns before referee Eric Dali halted the scheduled four-round bout at 1 minute, 45 seconds of the second round.
“He had a little bit of nervous energy because of the crowd,” Seldon said. “But once he settled down, he did everything we asked him to do. I didn’t care if (Margheim) turned southpaw or no paw. Once Bruce established his jab, that was the result he was going to get.
“I give him a B-plus. People have to understand that this was his second fight ever. He didn’t have an amateur career. So I’ve been very pleased with what he’s done so far.”
Figueroa, 25, dominated his scheduled six-rounder against Espinoza.
He controlled the pace throughout. Espinoza gamely tried to fight back, but Figueroa’s pressure ultimately wore him out. Midway through the third, Figueroa forced him into the ropes and unleashed a flurry that prompted Dali to wisely halt the bout at 1:25 of the round.
“The job is definitely not finished,” Figueroa said. “All the sacrifice and hard work that’s been put in to help me get to this point paid off.”
Both are expected to be back at the Trop before the end of the year.
Seldon is scheduled to fight on Sept. 7 in Carteret (Middlesex County) for Vineland’s Rising Star Promotions, then will likely be back in Atlantic City in October.
Figueroa, who fought in Indio, California and San Antonio, Texas earlier this year, could venture out to somewhere like Las Vegas, but given his immense popularity in his hometown, it shouldn’t be too long before he’s back on the boardwalk.
“Thanks to everyone for showing the love,” Figueroa said. “We’re going to put Atlantic City back on the boxing map.”
Margate Memorials set for Friday
The 74th Margate World War II Memorials lifeguard race is scheduled for Friday at Margate’s Decatur Avenue beach.
The event is considered the second leg of lifeguard racing’s “Big Three,” along with last week’s Dutch Hoffman’s in Wildwood and next week’s South Jersey Championships.
Atlantic City is the defending champion at Margate, though it could face a stiff challenge from Avalon, which won the Dutch Hoffman’s.
Brigantine brothers Jack and Joe Savell are the defending champs in the doubles row. Margate’s Zach Vasser won the swim last year and Longport’s Mike McGrath took top honors in the singles row.
The Savell brothers and Vasser both won at the Dutch Hoffman’s last week.
SJSSBL playoffs continue
The semifinals of the South Jersey South Shore Baseball League playoffs got underway this week.
Top-seeded and defending champion Margate Hurricanes are playing the fourth-seeded Ventnor Baysox while second-seeded Buena Blue Dawgs take on third-seeded Hammonton Hotshots.
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.
Send comments to weinbergd419@comcast.net.
