Justin Figueroa, 9-0, 7KO’s is looking for his tenth straight win as he enters the ring Friday at the Tropicana.
The Atlantic City native has been boxing professionally for three years. Before he put on the gloves, the junior middleweight was a standout football player for Holy Spirit High School who once dreamed of playing big-time college football.
Figueroa was candid about his dreams, and the reality of that stage of his life.
“I just didn’t have the grades," he said. "My GPA didn’t add up. I wasn’t focused in high school. I was a little misguided as a youth. The scholarship offers I dreamed of never materialized.”
After graduating from Holy Spirit in 2017, he attended Rowan University for one semester before embarking on his boxing career.
He credits his father’s love of the sport for sparking his own interest in the sweet science.
“My dad was always watching the fights. I think watching with him all throughout my childhood instilled that love of the sport,” he said.
Figueroa started boxing to lose weight from his football playing days. He played right at 200 pounds, even once getting up to 215.
While he was at the gym, he found himself moving well in the ring with guys who had way more experience. Right then, he decided to put everything else on hold and focus exclusively on boxing.
He is the definition of a professional. It is his only job. Long gone are the days of lifting heavy weights and trying to bulk up for football. His fighting weight is 154 pounds.
Figueroa loves to swim, so it was hard to leave his job as a member the Atlantic City Beach Patrol. He enjoyed those summer days working on the beach and helping people. He did it for six years.
While, he may have stopped working as a lifeguard, he didn’t leave it all behind. When he’s able to, he uses swimming and paddle boarding to supplement his boxing workouts.
“Swimming and paddleboarding are great ways to work on my strength and cardio,” Figueroa said.
Figueroa is excited to work again with Boxing Insider’s Larry Goldberg, who he credits with settling his nickname once and for all.
“Larry is good company," Figueroa said. "It’s funny, he is the one who really got the Mr. Atlantic City name going. I put it on my Instagram, like some fighters and influencers do. But I had been called ‘Just in Time,’ which I liked, but Larry said, 'No, no, you’re Mr. Atlantic City.' That’s when it really took off.”.
Goldberg feels the same.
“Justin is a great kid. An example for the children of Atlantic City," Goldberg said. "He could’ve taken a different route, but decided to be a positive influence on the community. Someone kids can look up to. He’s charismatic, he has that star quality.
"I love working with Justin," he added. "He has a good team around him. His manager, Jolene Mizzone, is guiding him in the right way. She’s a top-notch manager who knows boxing.”
Inside the ring, Figueroa has rattled off nine wins in a row. He fights from an orthodox stance and loves to watch tape of Vasiliy Lomachenko, one of the most decorated fighters of all time and sure-fire hall of famer.
“Lomo is so technical, his ins and outs, footwork. I’ve probably watched all of his fights,” he sadi.
Getting to double digit wins will be a big step in Figueroa’s burgeoning career. Once you reach 10 wins, different doors begin to open. If he keeps going, it won’t be long before he is ranked by one of the sanctioning bodies. He could even find himself competing for one of the regional titles.
Justin Figueroa summed it up pretty well himself: “This is my job. I am 100% focused on becoming the best I can be. I’m shooting for the stars.”
At the time of this article, Figueroa is scheduled compete in the co-main event, just before Otto Wallin and Onoriode Ehwarieme collide in a heavyweight clash.
Catch all the action Friday at the Tropicana. Make sure you arrive "Just in Time" to catch Mr. Atlantic City, Justin Figueroa!
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