(May 20th) Boxing Insider Promotions returns to the Tropicana Atlantic City Showroom on Saturday, June 13, 2026 as undefeated South Jersey heavyweights Josh Popper and Bruce Seldon Jr. headline what promises to be the biggest local heavyweight showdown the region has seen in years.

Bruce “2.0” Seldon Jr. (8-0, 6 KOs) of Smithville, NJ trains out of the Pleasantville Recreation Center under trainer Julio Sanchez. The son of former WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World Bruce Seldon Sr., he has built five of his eight wins right here on the Boxing Insider stage at the Tropicana — where his raw power and finishing instinct have made him a local fan favorite. The Absegami graduate is fighting in his own backyard — and he has never once left the building without a win.

Josh “The Hammer” Popper (7-0, 6 KOs) of Egg Harbor Township trains at Bredwinners Gym in Manhattan under Jose Luis Guzman. A 2023 USA Boxing Metro NY Golden Gloves and New York Ring Masters champion, Popper turned pro in 2024 and has ended six of his seven wins by knockout. The 6’3” former Rowan University All-Conference standout earned NFL minicamp invitations from the Cardinals and Colts. Two of those seven wins have come right here at the Tropicana.

These aren’t strangers to the room — and they aren’t strangers to each other. Both grew up in the suburbs of Atlantic City. Football rivals first. Boxing rivals now.

But before the storyline, there is something more important: these two men agreed to fight each other. In 2026, that matters.

“You have any idea how hard it is to make a fight like this?” said promoter Larry Goldberg. “Two undefeated heavyweights from the same area, both with history on Boxing Insider shows, and they were willing to step up. To quote Oscar De La Hoya ‘they are daring to be great’. They’re taking a real risk at home, in front of their own people. Give both these guys credit for doing what nobody else is willing to do right now.”

Seldon left no doubt about where his head is: “The fight can’t get here fast enough. This is the type of fight I’ve been looking forward to since I turned pro. I am motivated. I immediately accepted it when it was offered, without hesitation. I live for this. I have a lot of respect for Josh and his team but June 13th is going to be my night. I am already three weeks into my preparation and the world is going to see a Bruce Seldon Jr. they have never seen before. Josh has never stepped into the ring with someone like me. I can’t wait to climb through the ropes at the Tropicana and give all my fans and everyone in attendance a night to remember.”

Popper fired back: “It’s gonna be one of the biggest fights in Atlantic City in quite some time. I have nothing but respect for Bruce, but he’s gonna find out that I’m different from everybody he’s been in the ring with. Not having any kind of amateur background is going to be highlighted when he’s in the ring with me. Being an amateur here in New York, I’ve seen a lot of different types of opposition. I’ve been ready and waiting for an opponent like Bruce, and on June 13th everyone’s gonna see why.”

CO-MAIN EVENT: John Leonardo Jr. (13-1-1) steps up against Daniil Platonovschi (7-2) of Brooklyn, NY in the super bantamweight division. Leonardo Jr. is building a name the hard way, the same way his father did, and has developed a reputation for punishing, crowd-pleasing body work. With a regional title in his sights for 2026, this is a statement fight.

Boxing Insider Promotions returns to the Tropicana Atlantic City Showroom on Saturday, June 13, 2026, with undefeated South Jersey heavyweights Bruce Seldon Jr. and Josh Popper headlining a card that pits two unbeaten records against each other. 

Popper Returns Home

Josh “The Hammer” Popper of Egg Harbor Township trains at Bredwinners Gym in Manhattan’s Flatiron District under Jose Luis Guzman. Before turning to boxing, Popper was a Holy Spirit High School standout and a Rowan University All-Conference athlete who received NFL minicamp invitations from the Arizona Cardinals and Indianapolis Colts. He has since built an undefeated professional record that includes multiple wins on the Tropicana stage.

Seldon Jr. Fighting on Familiar Ground

Bruce “2.0” Seldon Jr. of Smithville trains at the Pleasantville Recreation Center under Julio Sanchez. The son of former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon Sr., he is fighting on the same Atlantic City stage where his father captured a world title. An Absegami High School graduate, Seldon Jr. has built the majority of his wins at the Tropicana, where his power and finishing instinct have made him a local draw.

Promoter’s Take

“Two undefeated South Jersey heavyweights, both with history at the Tropicana, both willing to step up and fight each other. That doesn’t happen in 2026,” said promoter Larry Goldberg. “Add in the high school rivalry, the local pride, and the fact that both guys are coming to fight. This is the fight everyone locally wanted to see, and it took real work to make it happen. June 13 is going to be a night Atlantic City remembers.”

Undercard

South Jersey fan favorite Julio “Jewelz” Sanchez III faces Shawn Rall in a scheduled action bout. John Leonardo Jr. also returns to the Tropicana, looking to build toward a regional title shot later this year.

Filling out the night are heavyweight Jahanzeb Rizwan, John Gjini, Yoel Angeloni, Kahshad Elliott, Koby Khalil Williams, David Malul, and Daiyaan Butt.