Julio Sanchez III, right, will make his professional debut Saturday. Bruce Seldon Jr., left, made his pro debut in Atlantic City last year.
For the Sanchez family, boxing is a family affair.
Junior welterweight Julio Sanchez III makes his pro debut Saturday at the Tropicana, as Boxing Insider Promotions returns for its fourth show in Atlantic City in just under a year. The promotion has turned into a launching pad for the area's best fighters.
The Sanchez family's boxing lineage begins with Sanchez’s great-grandfather, Lincoln Green, who was a boxing manager. In turn, he hired his son-in-law, Julio Sanchez Sr., to train his fighters.
But when Julio Jr. asked if he could box, his father refused to train him.
Then fate intervened.
Green managed a Canadian heavyweight named Marty Burton, who decided to head back to Canada for the summer. Julio Jr. asked if he could tag along.
Granted permission, young Julio ventured up to Canada looking for adventure. Once there, he began training with Burton every day, and when he arrived back home months later, his father estimated he now had the right skillset and decided to train him.
His pro career behind him, the retired firefighter stays active training fighters just like his own father did when he was a kid.
Sanchez III last fought back in November on Boxing Insider's AC PAL amateur show, where according to promoter Larry Goldberg, "He stole the show."
"When Julio Jr. — who is a decorated local boxer — called me and asked if we were interested in doing this on the professional level with his son, I couldn't say yes quick enough," Goldberg said. "I'm hoping Julio III will be the next local Pleasantville boxer that we all get excited about and want to come see in person."
Goldberg’s hopes are likely to come to fruition.
Sanchez III has sold a lot of tickets for the event and has lined up multiple sponsors, including the Jim Schafer Foundation, a nonprofit that provides scholarships and equipment to aspiring athletes.
He had a standout athletic career at Pleasantville High School, where he starred for the Greyhounds as the point guard on the basketball team. That was followed by a stint playing for Coalinga College in California. Julio Sanchez III then returned to New Jersey.
Soon after he started to drift and, as he puts it, “I started hanging around the wrong people, doing the wrong things. Boxing probably saved my life in a way.”
When he turned to boxing, he didn't have far to look for inspiration or expertise.
His father is a former fighter and an active trainer. He is also an army veteran and retired Pleasantville firefighter.
"Being a fighter is a different mindset from being a former firefighter," Sanchez Jr. said. "I've learned to run toward danger. Boxing is similar in that respect."
Julio III provided his thoughts on his preparation and fighting for his hometown.
"Representing Pleasantville means everything to me," he said. "I want to make sure I'm 110 percent ready each and every time out there. I’ve been doing two-a-days for six months.”
Friday marks not only his pro debut, it is also his mother’s birthday, and he is looking forward to giving her something to cheer for.
“My mom was nervous when I first started boxing, but now she’s excited to see me doing something positive,” he said.
His favorite fighter is Gervonta "Tank" Davis.
When asked about his own style, he said: “I watch a lot of tape of different fighters, I’m not trying to emulate anyone, but I do take things from different guys and put them into my repertoire.”
In addition to Julio III’s debut, two other local fighters will also be on the card.
Making his own debut just last year, Bruce Seldon Jr. now stands undefeated at 4-0 as a heavyweight.
He will be looking to pick up his fifth win.
Justin Figueroa will be one of the headliners. "Mr. Atlantic City" is gunning for his 12th pro victory.
Doors open at 7 p.m., the first fight is at 7:30 in the Tropicana showroom
