Boxing
Atlantic City Boxing Notebook: Regular AC Fights Return
Published
3 months agoon
By Boxing Insider promotions
Tropicana Atlantic City, the longtime epicenter of boxing on the East Coast, returns with a bang in 2026. On Saturday, March 7, Boxing Insider Promotions returns to the Tropicana showroom with a stack of cards featuring female boxing and regional talent – representing one of the city’s busiest fight weekends in years, with Ring of Combat MMA packing into the same venue the night before on Friday.
March 7 Main attractions at Tropicana
“Mr. Atlantic City” Justin Figueroa, NABF junior welterweight champion, will claim his 15th professional victory in a soon-to-be-announced professional bout.
John Leonardo, who headlined Boxing Insider’s first professional event in May 2024 in Manalapan Township, Recent Jersey, makes his highly anticipated return to the ring on March 7 against veteran Edgar Joe Cortes of Millville, Recent Jersey.
Women’s boxing takes center stage as Lia Lewandowski clashes with Indeya Smith in a fight that has already caused quite a stir as one of the biggest women’s fights of the start of the year.
Bredwinners Boxing’s Josh Popper returns after a crowd-pleasing debut in Atlantic City in November, chasing victory number six with his trademark charisma and knockout power.
Local favorite Julio Sanchez (3-1) is targeting 4-1 against tough veteran Bababooey, encouraging the city of Pleasantville to root for this one-time soccer hero and second-generation boxer.
The rest of this loaded club card will be revealed soon – full breakdowns will appear in the next Notebook.
Tickets sell quickly. Get your copy at Ticketmaster.com and join us on Saturday, March 7 at Tropicana Atlantic City. Doors at 6:00 p.m., first bell at 7:00 p.m.
Quick hits from the boardwalk
- Just last night (January 23, 2026), Mike Tyson concluded his “Return of the Mike” tour with an energy-packed solo performance at Demanding Rock Live at Etess Arena. The boxing icon delivered raw stories, humor and reflections on his legendary career to a captivated audience – further proof that Atlantic City remains forever linked to Iron Mike’s heavyweight dominance.
- The 10th Annual Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame Awards Gala and Induction Weekend will be held September 25-27, 2026 at the Demanding Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City.
- Promoted by Matchroom, the Jaron “Boots” Ennis vs. Eimantas Stanionis welterweight bout last April at Boardwalk Hall generated an economic impact of $1.59 million for the city, according to calculations by Visit Atlantic City and the Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame.
- Jackie Atkins presents the second annual East Coast Women’s Championship, February 7-8 at Showboat. Sanctioned by USA Boxing, the two-day women’s amateur tournament aims to develop and promote women’s boxing on the East Coast by offering championship belts, “best female boxer” awards and valuable experience for boxers, coaches and officials.
- The Team Boxing League (formerly Team Combat League) hosted the official national qualifiers for Season IV on January 16-18 at the Traymore Ballroom in Bally’s Atlantic City. The three-day event was attended by elite amateurs and professionals from across the country.
- Philadelphia promoter Rodney Rice has a Feb. 21 event at Showboat headlined by Atlantic City’s Francisco “Cisco” Rodriguez.
- Christian “Spazz” Figueroa – the younger brother of “Mr. Atlantic City” Justin Figueroa – makes his second professional walk Feb. 7 at Demanding Rock after a first-round knockout in his debut.
Remember when: Tyson destroys Holmes – January 22, 1988
On a frosty January night in 1988, one of the most crucial heavyweight fights of the era took place at the Atlantic City Convention Center (known as Trump Plaza): undefeated Mike Tyson versus former champion Larry Holmes.
Tyson, the youngest heavyweight king in history, put his WBA, WBC and IBF titles on the line against the 38-year-old Holmes, who was trying to make a comeback. The fight, dubbed “heavyweight history,” lasted four brutal rounds as Tyson’s speed and power overwhelmed Holmes, knocking him down three times in the fourth round before the break at 2:55. The hall was filled with over 20,000 fans.
Last call
The March 7 event will be Boxing Insider Promotions’ 20th showcase since October 2002 and seventh in Atlantic City since May 2024. We hosted six professional events in 2025 (three in AC, three in Recent York) and a PAL charity event in November, which earned us an Excellence Award from the Atlantic City Police Department and AC PAL.
Atlantic City Police Chief Sarkos praised promoter Larry Goldberg for taking action that makes a real difference in the lives of local children.
“Larry Goldberg showed what true community leadership looks like,” said Chief Sarkos. “His commitment to our PAL boxing program goes far beyond generosity – he invests his time, energy and heart to facilitate our youthful people realize their potential. Larry doesn’t just support these kids; he believes in them. And that belief creates opportunities that can change the course of their lives.”
We are especially proud to carry on the legacy of the delayed Don Elbaum, who made Tropicana the center of boxing on the East Coast in the 1980s with a legendary series of 196 fight cards – many on Tuesday nights in front of sold-out crowds. We honored him here last year, shortly before his death, and each time Boxing Insider is held here, we keep that tradition alive.
See you in the ring.
Let me know if you want any other improvements or additions!
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Many fans on social media suspect that Miller is once again chasing Joshua just to secure a huge payday, which he threw away when failed drug tests canceled their 2019 fight.
Joshua wants a tune-up before he finally meets Tyson Fury. The plan is to shake off the rust and keep his record pristine before this huge event happens. This gap in the schedule gives other heavyweights a chance to make their voices heard, and Miller takes advantage of the moment.
Miller is still a controversial name, but he knows how to cause offense. Beating Pero would aid him prove that he still belongs in this conversation.
“Your whooping cough will come sooner or later. You can run, but you can’t hide,” Jarrell Miller said on Matchroom.
From a business perspective, Joshua’s team is focused on the Tyson Fury event. Facing an aggressive, volume hitter like Miller in a comeback fight would be risky. If Joshua wins, critics may view it as defeating a challenger who has spent years outside the elite mix. If he loses, Fury’s payout and his position will take damage.
Miller has built much of his reputation on noise and confrontation, but he’s still trying to fight his way into the majors. A victory over Pero won’t put him in a fight with Joshua right away, but it will keep him in the wider discussion.
Joshua’s team may still choose the safer and more controlled option of a return, especially if negotiations with Fury progress behind the scenes. Risking that payday against a hazardous or inconvenient opponent wouldn’t make much sense.
Still, Miller continues to cling to the story whenever Joshua’s name resurfaces in the headlines. Heavyweight boxing has a long memory, and some unfinished fights remain useful long after the first fall.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most vital fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.
Boxing
Terence Crawford names one fight he would like to see against Gervonta Davis this year
Published
4 hours agoon
April 25, 2026
Terence Crawford has named an opponent he would “love to face” with Gervonta Davis in his expected return to the sport.
The former world champion hasn’t fought since March 2025, when many felt he was lucky to draw with Lamont Roach.
Nevertheless, “Tank” retained the WBA lightweight title and was scheduled to face Roach in an immediate rematch before negotiating an exhibition match with Jake Paul.
But instead of spending time with the YouTuber-turned-boxer, Davis was forced to deal with domestic violence allegations from his former partner, Courtney Rossel.
Since then The 31-year-old was recognized by the WBA as a “breaktime champion”.urged by No. 1 contender Floyd Schofield to book their fight or give him a free shot at the title.
Davis, however, has expressed greater interest in a rematch with Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz at 140 pounds, even though he passed the Mexican in 2021.
Meanwhile, Crawford has no desire to watch “Tank” fight Schofield or Cruz, but he would happily sit back and watch him clash with Shakur Stevenson.
I’m talking to Danielle Pirello“Bud” called the WBO super lightweight world champion the perfect opponent for Davis, believing their potential meeting would be one of the best fights that could be had.
“I’d like to see Shakur vs. ‘Tank’ Davis.”
Stevenson had previously called on Davis to sign a contract several times, perhaps making him increasingly doubtful whether the Baltimore player would ever sign.
Therefore, it is unrealistic to expect an immediate fight between “Tank” and Stevenson, especially after the latter’s dominant performance against Teofimo Lopez in January.
Boxing
Deontay Wilder’s opponents are leaving after Anthony Joshua’s snub
Published
4 hours agoon
April 25, 2026
Two credible opponents emerged after Deontay Wilder vs. Anthony Joshua finally fell after an eight-year battle for the fight.
As World Boxing News documents from start to finish, after nearly a decade of back-and-forth, a Wilder-Joshua fight is no longer an option.
Joshua now has bigger fish to fry in the UK in 2026 as the former two-time heavyweight champion pushes for a British superfight with Tyson Fury.
Promoter Eddie Hearn effectively ruled out Wilder as a warm-up opponent, leaving the Londoner’s next moves without the “Brown Bomber” involved.
After the summer warm-up, Fury’s double will follow and by the time Joshua is finally free, Wilder will be 42 years aged.
This causes Wilder to look elsewhere.
Deontay Wilder’s opponents
Joshua’s compatriot Moses Itauma has already called for a fight, putting himself in a risky clash with one of the best fighters in the division.
Itauma is already shunned and would be seen as a bad turn for Wilder.
However, what stands out is a potential Pay-Per-View showdown in the United States with Andy Ruiz Jr.
The two were linked to fights between 2020 and 2023, when, ironically, the Tyson Fury trilogy stalled before Ruiz’s contract situation made any agreement impossible.
As previously reported by WBN, talks on financial terms were finally broken off when the fight was already clearly decided.
The interest never went away. WBN also revealed how fan demand for the Wilder vs. Ruiz match had skyrocketed, generating millions of views as fans insisted that the fight would finally happen.
Now, after their September showdown at Allegiant Stadium, Wilder vs. Ruiz is the front-runner if either fighter is to return to the heavyweight world title hunt.
Following Joshua’s departure from the table, Wilder’s next move is under scrutiny and calls for a rematch with Derek Chisora are met with an extremely lukewarm reception.
Whether he takes on an emerging name like Itauma or returns to unfinished business with Ruiz, this decision will impact how he re-enters the heavyweight scene.
The title isn’t out of the question for Wilder, but the next move has to be the right one.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Since 2010, he has interviewed world champions, published exclusive international performances and reported on in-ring performances. His work is distributed on major platforms including Apple News. Read the full biography.
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