By Ken Hissner: At the Showboat Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Hard Hitting Promotions President Ambassador Manny Rivera with matchmaker Will Ruiz are a top-flight boxing promotion primarily out of Philadelphia. They will start their once-a-month 12-month promotion on July 31st. Publicity Rep Mark Fratto did the introductions.
Rivera took the microphone, and it being his birthday, had a double celebration. “We are blessed to having this event. This is not a club show. This is professional boxing worthy of being on cable television. I am so glad to be part of this. We are known for putting on top shows. This is just the tip of the iceberg. This is just a small piece of what is going to happen in Atlantic City. This has been a vision for the past three and a half years.
What we will be doing is putting on great fights and high-quality events, and we can see this as the start of bringing big-time boxing in Atlantic City like it used to be. You can see what we are trying to do in our first event by having excellent fights with all the fighters getting tested in real fights,” said Rivera. This writer can confirm they put on top shows from covering each and every one.
Rivera was followed by the mayor of Atlantic City, Marty Small, Sr. “This is my administration’s way of bringing big-time boxing back. We will be holding the Atlantic City Hall of Fame in August.
Brandon Dixon, President of Tower Investments, was next to take the podium. “Starting on July 31st, we will start a 12-fight series with Hard Hitting Promotions. We are committed to making boxing an integral part of the city’s non-casino entertainment. In addition to our professional boxing series, we will be rolling out a truly unique amateur series,” said Dixon. Jackie Atkins of USA Amateur Boxing was confirming the amateur status. “We want to thank the mayor and also Ray McKline for supporting these events,” said Atkins.
In the Main Event Christian Tapia, 11-0 with 10 knockouts, from Coamo, Puerto Rico, battles Mason “Rock Hard Mighty” Maynard, 36-5 with 25 knockouts, from Rayne, Louisiana, for the vacant USA NABA Super Featherweight title, 10 rounds. Tapia is coming off a 4th round stoppage over Carlos Colon on March 7th, 2020, in Atlantic City.
The co-feature has bantamweight Dylan Price, 13-0 (10), of Sicklerville, NJ, taking on Edwin Rodriguez 11-5-2 (5), of Juana Diaz, PR, 8 rounds. Price has stopped his last 4 opponents with his last win in Philadelphia April 17th over Elias Joaquino. “I’m excited to be on the card in the semi-main event,” said Price.
Also on the card is Atlantic City’s Anthony “Juice” Young, 21-2 (8). In his last fight, he knocked out Sadam “World Kid” Ali in May of 2019 for the USNBC title. He takes on Todd Manuel, 19-17-1 (5), of Rayne La., 8 rounds. Young will be making his thirteenth appearance in AC.
Both Publicist Marc Abrams and ring announcer Nino Del Buno were introduced with, both being inducted into the AC HOF in August.
Young said, “It’s my first fight in over 2 years, and I am looking forward to being on Hard Hitting’s first show here. Next was Price, 13-0 with 9 knockouts. “I’m excited to be on the card,” Main Event boxer Tapia was introduced. “First of all, I want to thank God, Hard Hitting Promotions, and anyone involved in my career. God bless you all!”
Next up was Jerome Conquest, 10-5 (1), from Philadelphia, also on the card. “I need this fight to get back on track. The last time I fought here in Atlantic City, I scored one of the biggest wins in AC.” He and Caraballo are in 6’s. Philly Flyweight Ricardo “Time Bomb” Caraballo, 6-1 (2), “I’ve been fighting in Florida and in my last fight in April in Atlanta, Georgia and am glad to come back here.”
Bantamweight Emmanuel Rodriguez, 9-0 (4), of Quebardillas, PR, is in a 4.