Rising Star Promotions, in association with the Atlantic City Sports Commission, brings boxing back to Atlantic City’s historic Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall on Saturday, July 22, 7pm (doors at 6pm) with Boardwalk Boxing.
The event will be headlined by N.J. native and middleweight title contender Thomas “Cornflake” LaManna (35-5-1, 14 KOs) in the 10-round Main Event (opponent TBD) for his WBA Fedelatin Middleweight Championship.
After falling to Erislandy Lara in a WBA middleweight championship fight in 2021, LaManna, who has publicly acknowledged suffering from bouts of depression, has rebounded strongly both inside and outside the ring.
The 31-year old Millville, N.J. resident has juggled promoting with stepping back in the ring, putting on shows in Washington, D.C. and in his home state, while winning his last five bouts after suffering the disheartening title loss. Not busy enough, he opened his own gym, Pound 4 Pound Boxing & Fitness in Atco, N.J. last March.
In addition to the popular headliner, the 10-bout card will also feature the return of a trio of fan favorites.
Heavyweight Kristian Prenga, a 6’5” knockout artist from Mirdite, Albania (13-1, 13 KOs), continues his ascension with a 10-round special attraction bout against another heavy hitter in Santander Sligado (32-15, 26 KOs) of Arboletes, Colombia. The bout will be for the open WBA Federcentro heavyweight championship. A former Taekwondo artist and kickboxer who has received sage advice from legendary heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis during his career, Prenga draws a large following especially from Albanian fans who travel from across the region.
Flyweight prospect Anthony “Big Back” Johns of Newark, N.J. (6-0, 5 KOs) will look for his seventh pro victory in a 6-round contest (opponent TBD). The 2019 National Golden Gloves 108-pound champion returns to fight for the third time in the resort town, with both previous bouts also at the Boardwalk Hall.
Atlantic City’s own, junior middleweight Justin “Time“ Figueroa (5-0, 5 KOs), steps up to a 6-rounder to face his toughest competition to date in Jeff Lentz (5-1, 1 KOs) of Egg Harbor Township, N.J. A former football standout at Holy Spirit High School in nearby Absecon who patrols the beaches as a lifeguard, Figueroa has remained busy since debuting in 2022 with all five bouts coming in front of his hometown fans.
The card will also feature the pro debut of female super lightweight Sharahya-Taina Moreu of Albuquerque, N.M. (4 rounds, opponent TBD). With a Puerto Rican and Native American background, the highly-regarded amateur with ring moniker of “PuebloRican” was a 2021 Olympic alternate for Team USA and nine-time National USA boxing champion.