By David Weinberg
The crowd at the Carteret Performing Arts & Events Center last Saturday included about 20 friends and family members from the Atlantic City area who had made the two-hour trip to root for Smithville heavyweight prospect Bruce Seldon Jr.
They were easy to spot. Most were wearing red “Team Seldon” t-shirts and cheered loudly when Seldon (3-0, 3 KOs) gained a third-round TKO over Victor Hugo Costa (1-4, 1 KO), from Nahant, Massachusetts.
Seldon also had one more fan in the crowd.
His father.
Former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, who now lives and works in the Newark area, smiled broadly while he watched his son in action, then visited him in his dressing room for a brief-but-emotional reunion.
“I didn’t know for sure that he was coming to the fight until I looked out in the crowd and saw him,” Seldon Jr. said. “It meant a lot to me to have him there.”
That was evident by his performance.
According to manager Jim Kurtz, the plan was for Bruce Jr. to take his time and feel out his opponent at the outset in hopes of capitalizing on an opening later in the scheduled four-round bout.
That strategy disappeared right after the prefight introductions, when Bruce Jr. surveyed the crowd and spotted his dad in the front row.
The 2012 Absegami High School graduate immediately overwhelmed Costa with a barrage of punches, breaking his nose in the process. Referee Shada Murdaugh stopped the fight after just one minute, 16 seconds.
“Once he saw his father, he charged out of the corner and came right after (Costa),” Kurtz said with a chuckle. “He wanted to impress his father.”
The son’s impressive win occurred exactly 28 years to the day the father suffered a devastating loss.
On Sept. 7, 1996, Bruce Sr. was making his second defense of the WBA title against Mike Tyson at MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Tyson registered a TKO in just 1:49. Seldon was so upset and distraught over the outcome that he went into seclusion for eight years before making a comeback in 2004. He fought eight more times between 2004 and 2009, posting a 6-3 record, before retiring with a career record of 40-8 with 36 knockouts.
The 40 wins rank second among local boxers who fought in the last 50 years, behind only the late Richie Kates, who earned 44 victories as a light-heavyweight contender from 1969-83. Seldon was inducted into the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame in 2018.
His namesake was too young to remember most of his father’s accomplishments.
Bruce Jr., now 30, was only 8 months old when Bruce Sr. became Atlantic City’s first world champion with a seventh-round TKO over Tony Tucker on April 8, 1995.
He has vague memories of some of the later fights, but actually was more interested in playing football and other sports at Absegami.
Bruce Jr. started boxing less than a year ago, but has made quick progress under the guidance of Pleasantville trainer Julio Sanchez and co-managers Kurtz and David Dubinsky.
Because of his age and lack of experience – he had no amateur fights before turning professional in July – he has been on the fast track with his career.
Three fights in as many months have ended with three quick knockouts. Tentative plans are for him to fight two or three times in 2024.
As his career progresses, the comparisons with Bruce Sr. figure to grow. But he is determined to create his own niche.
He’d much rather be in the spotlight than the shadows.
“It was great seeing him again,” Bruce Jr. said. “But I’m doing this for myself.”
Local NFL update
Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (Bridgeton) had six tackles in a 27-12 win over the Raiders last Sunday.
Bills defensive tackle Austin Johnson (St. Augustine Prep, Galloway Township) had one tackle in a 34-28 win over Arizona last Sunday. Cardinals rookie cornerback Max Melton (Cedar Creek) had two tackles.
Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (Vineland) rushed for 45 yards and a TD on 15 carries and two receptions for 33 yards in a 27-20 win over the Ravens last Thursday.
Packers wide receiver Bo Melton (Cedar Creek) did not have any receptions but drew a pass interfence penalty in a 34-29 loss to the Eagles last Friday in Brazil.
Return of the Anchor Bowl
One of the area’s best football rivalries will be renewed on Thursday, September 12 when Middle Township visits Lower Cape May Regional in the Anchor Bowl.
The two teams didn’t play last season for just the second time in at least 50 years.
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.
