Boxing Insider Promotions' Atlantic City event in 2026 was a spectacle of explosive knockouts and rising prospects. The main event, a heavyweight showdown between Josh 'The Hammer' Popper and Bruce '2.0' Seldon Jr., ended in a stunning 30-second knockout. Popper's lead left hook and subsequent hooks sent Seldon crashing to the canvas, leaving him apparently unconscious. This victory marked a turning point in Popper's career, improving his record to 8-0 with seven knockouts, while Seldon suffered his first professional loss, falling to 8-1 with six stoppages.
The co-main event featured a veteran welterweight clash between Daiyaan 'Badshah' Butt and Willmank Brito. Brito's southpaw style proved effective, troubling Butt from the opening bell. After a competitive start, Brito seized control in the fourth round, landing a leaping left hand that sent Butt into the ropes for a second knockdown. Brito's victory improved his record to 14-10-2 with 12 knockouts, while Butt dropped to 20-5 with 10 stoppages.
Damian Tinnerello, returning from a 14-month layoff, impressed in a middleweight clash against Abdullah 'The Storm' Nagy. Tinnerello's power punches and slugfest approach secured a first-round knockdown and a second-round TKO victory, improving his record to 6-0 with five knockouts. Nagy, on the other hand, fell to 2-5.
David Malul continued his unbeaten run in the middleweight division, defeating Julius 'June Bug' Thomas with a second-round TKO. Malul's tight defense and steady pressure broke through Thomas' guard, forcing a TKO and improving his record to 5-0 with three knockouts. Thomas dropped to 1-4-1.
Julio Sanchez III, returning to the Tropicana, earned his fourth straight victory in a super lightweight bout against Shawn Rall. Sanchez's southpaw style initially gave him problems, but he adjusted and took control in the final rounds. A knockdown in the closing seconds punctuated his performance, with all three judges scoring the bout 40-35 in favor of Sanchez, improving his record to 5-1. Rall fell to 4-7.
Jahanzeb 'The Beast from the Middle East' Rizwan faced Dan 'Sweet Tooth' Keepers in his second professional fight, going the distance for the first time. Rizwan's pressure and aggression proved effective, earning him a majority decision with scores of 40-36, 40-36, and 38-38. This victory raised Rizwan's record to 2-0 with one knockout, while Keepers slipped to 0-1.
The card opener featured Kahshad Elliott, who showcased his power by dropping Scottie Stockman twice in the opening round and breaking him down over the next two rounds. A crushing right hand in the third sent Stockman down for a third time, leading to a TKO victory for Elliott, improving his record to 8-0 with seven knockouts. Stockman's record fell to 4-3.
Overall, the event showcased the growing depth of boxing talent in New Jersey and the surrounding region, with five of the seven contests ending inside the distance. Popper's knockout stole the headlines, while Elliott, Tinnerello, and Malul all continued their undefeated runs with impressive stoppage victories. Boxing Insider Promotions once again demonstrated the region's potential for future stars.
