Sports

Gala to honor boxing in Atlantic City

A collection of some of the best boxers ever to perform in Atlantic City will be honored at the All Star Boxing Legends Gala Saturday night at the Resorts Casino Hotel.

Mike Tyson, Michael Spinks, Larry Holmes, Pernell Whitaker, Dwight Muhammad Qwai, Riddick Bowe, Matthew Saad Muhammad, Meldrick Taylor and Bobby Czyz are among the 80 boxing personalities and officials expected to attend the event, which will honor the rich history of boxing in Atlantic City. The late Joe Frazier and his family also will receive special recognition.

The gala is the brainchild of Atlantic City Mayor Lorenzo Langford and is part of the inaugural Atlantic City Multi-Cultural Heritage Festival that will stage various events around the city over the weekend.

“From the world championship fight of 1963 to Mike Tyson’s 13 bouts to the storied battles between Arturo Gatti and Micky Ward, Atlantic City has seen more than its fair share of highlight reel moments,” Langford said. “From debut fights for up-and-comers to the established greats, Atlantic City has been on the forefront of the boxing scene and this not-to-be-missed gala provides a unique setting to remember, celebrate and honor those associated with the sport of boxing in Atlantic City.”

The gala will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a Red Carpet entry for the boxing personalities in attendance. A black-tie optional sit down dinner begins at 8 p.m. Tickets for the Gala are priced at $100 and are available through Resorts’ Box Office or through Ticketmaster. Admission includes the cocktail hour, dinner and presentations.

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Floyd Mayweather left his Las Vegas mansion for a jail cell yesterday to begin serving a 90-day jail sentence on domestic battery charges stemming back to 2010. He was sentenced in December but was allowed to remain free until after his May 5 bout against Miguel Cotto.

The bout, won by Mayweather, generated $94 million dollars with Mayweather guaranteed $32 million. Mayweather initially will be segregated for his protection from the other 3,200 inmates at the Clark County Detention Center in Las Vegas. His sentence could be reduced by several weeks for good behavior.

“When I go away, the only thing it can do is make me grow mentally strong as a person,” he said recently. “Certain things you go through in life is an obstacle. It’s all part of life. You have good days. You have bad days. But the main thing is to grow mentally.”

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The traditional 10-count to honor the life and legacy of Johnny Tapia will be held before Saturday night’s boxing quadruple header on Showtime.

Tapia, a three-division world champion who battled cocaine and alcohol addictions, was found dead at his New Mexico home on Monday. An autopsy is pending. He was 45.

Tapia had done some promotional work for Showtime during its production of the Manny Pacquiao-Shane Mosley fight and the Super Six Super Middleweight Tournament.

“A man small in stature but gigantic in heart and personality, Johnny’s memory will remain with all that knew him and keep us smiling for years to come — just as he did in person,” said Stephen Espinoza, general manager of Showtime Sports Tonight’s quadruple header from Carson, Calif., features Antonio Tarver against Lateef Kayode in a cruiserweight bout; Austin “No Doubt” Trout defending his WBA junior middleweight title against Delvin Rodriguez , Winky Wright vs. Peter Quillin in a middleweight bout, and Leo Santa Cruz against Vusi Malinga for the vacant IBF bantamweight title.

Tarver, a former light heavyweight champion, has set his sights on eventually becoming a heavyweight champion.

“Dominating the cruiserweight division and carrying that to the heavyweight division and capturing the heavyweight title, that’s the big picture I’ve dreamed about,” Tarver said. “That’s the goal I’ve set for myself. I need to make sure I do what I can do to make sure my place in boxing history is secure.”

george.willis@nypost.com