By Lisa Johnson
NABF super lightweight champion Justin “Mr. Atlantic City” Figueroa steps into the Tropicana Showroom on March 7 not just to defend an unbeaten record, but to embody Atlantic City’s new boxing era—star power, confidence, and local pride under the lights.
Mr. Atlantic City Owns the Spotlight
On Saturday, March 7, Boxing Insider Promotions rolls out its seventh professional fight card at Tropicana Atlantic City since reviving boxing at the resort in 2024, with Figueroa (14-0) headlining in the main event. The NABF super lightweight titleholder, known as “Mr. Atlantic City,” has kept his record spotless through 14 bouts, building a reputation for high-octane performances that feel tailor-made for a casino showroom crowd.
A hometown favorite with his striking good looks and a charming presence, Figueroa brings a mix of poise and edge that resonates with local fans and first-time fight-goers alike. He carries Atlantic City on his back each time he walks to the ring, positioning himself as both a rising national contender and the face of a city rediscovering its love affair with live boxing.
Three Garden State Standouts Bring the Sizzle
Sharing the marquee with Figueroa is a trio of New Jersey fighters whose talent is matched by their charisma and camera-ready appeal, making this card as visually compelling as it is competitive.
● Justin “Mr. Atlantic City” Figueroa (Atlantic City, NJ; 16-0, 12 KOs) – Carrying his NABF belt into the ring, the Holy Spirit graduate brings a polished, star quality to the main event, the kind of powerful presence that fits seamlessly into a lifestyle magazine as much as a fight poster.
● Lia “Rogue” Lewandowski (Berlin, NJ; 3-0, 1 KO) – An undefeated professional flyweight, Lewandowski returns to Atlantic City to face Indeya Rodriguez, aiming to extend a knockout streak that has quickly made her one of South Jersey’s most intriguing young pros. A Drexel grad, with a double major in Global Studies and Political Science, her blend of brains, beauty, and power in the ring brings a dynamic energy to the women’s bout on the card.
● Josh “The Hammer” Popper (Somers Point, NJ; 5-0, 3 KOs) – A Holy Spirit High School graduate and former NFL prospect, Popper has parlayed his athletic pedigree and magnetic personality into a dual life as both a rising heavyweight and founder of Breadwinners Boxing in New York City. The Somers Point native carries himself with the confident ease of someone equally comfortable under gym fluorescents and red-carpet flashbulbs, a lifestyle he shared when he dated Madonna.
Together, these three Jersey standouts bring a sophisticated, modern glamour to the March 7 show.
Margate Native Ignites Tropicana’s Boxing Revival
The March 7 event continues a remarkable turnaround at the Tropicana Showroom, which went seven years without a professional boxing card before Boxing Insider Promotions—led by one of the last American club promoters, Larry Goldberg—brought the sport back to Atlantic City in May 2024. Since then, Tropicana has become the region’s must-see boxing venue, with March 7 marking the seventh show there under the Boxing Insider banner in under two years—and the promotion’s 20th professional event overall since October 2022.
In an era when true club-level boxing has largely vanished from the U.S.—sidelined by arena spectacles, streaming deals, and overseas-backed events—Larry Goldberg stands out as a rare grassroots force. The 2024 NYS Boxing Hall of Fame Promoter of the Year has made it his mission to not only revive boxing at the Trop but elevate it as a true hub for the sport’s future. He curates action-packed cards spotlighting South Jersey talent alongside regional and international standouts, while investing in the next generation through the annual Battle of the Beach amateur showcase with the Atlantic City Police Athletic League (earning an Excellence Award from AC PAL for his support).
Photo by Harry Purdy
A Night Built for Atlantic City Resurrecting its Legacy
Beyond Figueroa, Lewandowski, and Popper, the March 7 card features a deep supporting cast, including an all-New Jersey showdown between John Leonardo (12-1-1) and Millville’s Edgar Cortes, plus rising talents like Pakistan’s Jahanzeb Rizwan and 6-foot-9 Irish heavyweight Jim Torney. The result is a lineup that blends local roots with international flavor, as Atlantic City resurrects its legacy as a boxing heavyweight.
March 7th will be a night where the story extends beyond the ropes: hometown stars, a reborn casino showroom, humming with anticipation, and a city leaning back into its legacy as a boxing capital.
Tickets for Boxing Insider: LIVE Professional Boxing on Saturday, March 7th at the Tropicana Showroom are available through Ticketmaster, offering fans a front-row seat to Atlantic City’s latest chapter in fight-night glamour.
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