Welcome To The Twilight Zone – Rest in Peace Ms. Henderson – Ireland Invades Philadelphia! – Outlaw Returns – Noble & Brown Victorious.
By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq.
Date: March 7, 2026
Venue: The Alan Horowitz “Sixth Man Center” – Philadelphia, PA
Promoters: Dominic Walton—Teflon Promotions
Public Relations: Allanah Richman
Matchmaker: Dominic Walton & Rigoberto Lopez
Ring Announcer: James Bartley
Referees: Shawn Clark & Shada Mardaugh
Ringside Doctors: Tony Al Amin & Kelly Lopez
Ringcard Ladies: Jaimye Murphy & Nia Richardson
Timekeeper: Alice “The G.O.A.T” Grady
Coverage: Millions.co
Commentators: Marc Abrams, Vaughn “V-Hustle” Adams & Chris Kennedy
Gloves: “Put Up Your Dukes” brand – www.kdukesboxing.com
Photos: Darryl Cobb Jr.
“You are traveling through another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. Your next stop, the Twilight Zone” (The Twilight Zone Season 3).
On October 12, 2025, Eric “Outlaw” Hunter, Anthony “The Messenger” Thompson, and twenty-three others were honored with induction into the Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame. Hunter and Thompson were recognized in the “Modern Era” category, while I was inducted as a “Boxing Writer.” Tonight, Thompson sat ringside recording the action, while I was in press-row, witnessing, thirty-nine-year-old Eric Hunter (22 wins – 4 losses – 0 draws – 11 kos) make his way to the ring for a scheduled six-round lightweight main event.
He joins Howard Davis Jr and Buster Douglas in a rare fraternity of boxers who performed brilliantly, paying homage to their deceased mothers. Just three days before his opening bout in the 1976 Olympics – Davis’ mom, Catherine died of a heart attack. Davis went on to not only capture the Gold Medal in the lightweight division but also garnered “The Outstanding Boxer Award.” While in training camp Douglas’ mom, Lula Pearl, died of a stroke 23 days before Douglas captured the undisputed World Heavyweight Title on February 11, 1990 – stopping Mike Tyson in the 10th round in a fight in which he was a 42-1 underdog. These accomplishments are a testament to the extraordinary resilience and dedication of boxers who draw strength from their loved ones, even in the face of personal tragedy.
Welcome to the Twilight Zone!
This occurred less than eight hours after Hunter had laid his beloved mother and #1 fan, Karen E. Henderson, to rest following her passing on March 3rd. She played a significant role in the community and was responsible for supporting numerous individuals. The events surrounding Hunter’s return felt straight out of a Hollywood script. Almost seven years into retirement, Hunter took the bold step of returning to the ring to compete on the same card as his son—undefeated junior-welterweight southpaw Kadeen Hunter-Munson (7 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 5 kos). However, Kadeen unexpectedly withdrew from the event, leaving Hunter to fight alone. Despite the withdrawal and his mother’s passing, Hunter pressed forward, believing this was the best way to honor her memory. “At my fights, she was always the loudest one in the room,” Hunter shared.
In his post-fight interview, Hunter confided, “You know I do not trust too many people? Mr. Turner is gone and so is Sloane,” referring to trainers Dick Turner, who died in 2020, and Sloan Harrison, who passed in 2021—both Pennsylvania Boxing Hall of Fame inductees. Hunter explained that “Uncle Andre” was in his corner for the bout, alluding to the legendary New York-based boxing professor Andre Rozier. Throughout the main event, Eric Hunter benefited from the presence and guidance of the esteemed trainer. Known for steering the careers of notable fighters such as middleweight champion Danny Jacobs, Rozier offered strategic instructions to Hunter in his corner. His seasoned advice was instrumental as Hunter navigated each round, drawing upon Rozier’s experience with championship-level athletes to maximize his performance in a high-pressure return to the ring. Having worked with Rozier during his amateur and professional journey, Hunter has developed a deep bond with him, founded on mutual respect and trust.
Before delving into the specifics of the fight itself, a special mention is due to a young gentleman who left an impression during the post-fight interviews—Hunter’s nephew, nine-year-old Fidel Johnson-Lee. At the conclusion of the event, Fidel was visibly surprised that no one had approached him for his thoughts on the match. To remedy this oversight, I took a moment to interview him and gather his unique perspective on his uncle’s performance.
Fidel spoke with clarity and confidence, observing, “My uncle played with him, he didn’t want to knock him out!” He voiced a common sentiment. Eric Hunter, a former World Featherweight Title Challenger, demonstrated his skill and experience, employing a variety of techniques to control the fight and secure a shut-out victory. Fidel’s succinct analysis echoed the consensus among spectators regarding Hunter’s dominance in the ring. Thank you, Fidel, for your insightful commentary. In the following paragraphs, I will detail the events that unfolded during Hunter’s successful comeback.
As the opening round began, Hunter emerged from his corner, working behind his jab and meeting twenty-five-year-old Angel Varela (11 wins – 9 losses – 0 draws – 7 kos) of Sonora, Mexico in the center of the ring. Despite his lengthy retirement, Hunter’s jab was sharp and effective, consistently landing on Varela’s head and body. Varela responded with his own jabs, attempting left hooks and straight rights. Still, Hunter’s defensive skills—blocking, slipping, and parrying—remained strong. The action continued into the second round, with Hunter landing solid body shots and demonstrating impressive head movement.
During our post-fight interview, Hunter disclosed that he injured his left shoulder in the second round, preventing him from seeking a knockout victory. He insisted the pain could not affect his performance, declaring, “nothing can hurt more than losing your mom!” Hunter continued to box skillfully behind his jab, landing left hooks and occasionally throwing the straight right. His timing was exceptional, slipping and rolling with punches in a manner reminiscent of the late four-division World Champion Pernell “Sweet Pea” Whitaker.
Hunter pitched a shut-out, enjoying himself in the ring and sidestepping Varela’s aggressive attacks. The Philly fighter was in “the zone”—a state of intense concentration and peak performance—echoing the style of Jersey Joe Walcott, who famously won the World Heavyweight title at age 37. When the final bell rang, Hunter was declared the winner by unanimous decision, 60-54 on all three scorecards. Welcome to the Twilight Zone!
The first fight of the evening showcased heavyweight competitors, pitting thirty-two-year-old Conja Nathan from Yonker, New York—whose record stood at (2 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko)—against thirty-eight-year-old Jayvonne Dafney of McComb, Mississippi, entering the ring (4 wins – 15 losses – 0 draws – 4 kos). Despite being two inches shorter than Dafney, who stood at 6 feet 3 inches, Nathan had a significant weight advantage, coming in at three hundred pounds and outweighing Dafney by sixty-five pounds.
As the opening bell rang, Nathan, adorned in striking white trunks, began the bout by working behind his left jab and pressing the action, occasionally throwing left hooks. Even while retreating, Dafney managed to return fire, keeping the match at a steady pace. The fight maintained this rhythm until Nathan unleashed a powerful left hook, immediately followed by a devastating straight right. The combination sent Dafney crashing onto the canvas, landing face down with his head beneath the bottom rope and within arm’s reach of the press-row table. Referee Shada Mardaugh quickly initiated the count, reaching ten as Dafney struggled unsuccessfully to regain his composure. Unable to continue, Dafney was counted out, and Nathan was officially declared the winner by knockout at 1:23 of the first round.
The fourth bout – the co-main event featured a scheduled six-round junior-lightweight contest between Philadelphia’s rising prospect, Rasheen “Sugar Sheen” Brown (14 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 8 kos), and Sharone Carter (14 wins – 16 losses – 1 draw – 3 kos) of St. Louis, Missouri. Notably, Brown had previously fought at this very venue on November 22nd, where he delivered a dominant performance, thoroughly outboxing Gary Hampton and earning a unanimous decision victory over eight rounds. With this impressive display in mind, anticipation for another technical showcase from Brown was high as the fighters made their way to the ring.
However, the bout was unexpectedly brief, Brown’s ring walk lasted longer than the fight itself. At the opening bell, Brown immediately established control, utilizing his sharp southpaw jab while Carter circled and attempted to respond with his own jab. The first moments suggested a typical feeling-out round, with both boxers cautiously gathering information and looking for openings. Brown’s jab and crisp counter left were executed with precision, as he advanced confidently.
Brown quickly threw a jab and then landed what looked like a right hook to Carter’s body. Carter went down and remained on the canvas until referee Clark’s count reached ten, resulting in a knockout victory for Brown just 39 seconds into the opening round. Replay footage indicated that the punches only lightly grazed Carter, leading to speculation about his reaction and raising questions about his intentions in the ring. The performance drew comparisons to previous boxers who, under the scrutiny of the legendary Pennsylvania Boxing Commissioner Francis Walker, had their purses withheld and faced suspension for similar actions.
Had you been blindfolded and seated in the front row near the dressing room, opening your eyes would have made you feel as if you were in Ireland itself. More than sixty Irish nationals journeyed from their homeland to witness the professional debut of twenty-two-year-old middleweight Cahir “The Gael” Gormley from Derry, Ireland, a two-time Irish National Amateur Champion. In the fifth bout of the night, Gormley, who now fights out of Scranton, Pennsylvania after relocating last summer, was greeted by his enthusiastic supporters waving flags and cheering loudly during his ring walk. In colloquial terms, “Ireland was in the house!”
Thirty-nine-year-old Elias Ajuna (0 wins – 6 losses – 0 draws) waited quietly in the ring. Originally from Nigeria, Ajuna now fights out of Wilmington, Delaware. His ring-walk music sparked immediate controversy due to the inclusion of lyrics containing the N-word. The offensiveness of these lyrics cannot be understated, and it is imperative that I comment on the seriousness of this misstep. Such lyrical content, which perpetuates degradation and dehumanization of Black people, should not be tolerated in any setting. I doubt that the promoter was aware that this choice of music would be played, as its presence in the arena was deeply inappropriate and unacceptable.
As the bell sounded, Cahir “The Gael” Gormley, standing at an imposing 6 feet 1 inch, emerged from his corner with authority, immediately utilizing his jab to establish control. He towered above his opponent, Elias Ajuna, who was listed at 5 feet 7 inches that seemed questionable, accounting for footwear with extra height. Ajuna resembled a smaller version of iconic bodybuilder Lee Haney and last fought at super-middleweight on November 11, 2025.
From the outset, Ajuna pressed forward aggressively, launching powerful haymakers at Gormley. Rather than relying on his height and reach, Gormley chose to stand his ground. Ajuna threw a powerful left hook, hitting Gormley on the right side of his head and causing the Irishman to stagger backward for a moment. Despite being visibly hurt, Gormley’s resilience shone through. Ajuna, however, did not capitalize on his moment of advantage, refraining from a follow-up attack.
Demonstrating remarkable recovery and composure, Gormley quickly regained his footing and returned to his strategy, working behind his jab and controlling the fight from a distance. He managed to win the opening round despite the early setback. The next three rounds followed a similar pattern, with Gormley boxing skillfully, moving laterally, and maintaining distance while Ajuna continued his relentless attempts to land his signature Joe Frazier-style left hook.
There were moments when Gormley’s fighting spirit led him to trade punches in close quarters, but he consistently recognized that boxing from range was his most effective approach. All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Gormley, marking a highly impressive debut. Throughout the contest, Gormley exhibited resilience, adaptability, and the ability to leverage his physical advantages. As the saying goes, “If you are lucky enough to be Irish …You’re lucky enough!”
Accompanied by his trainer, Reverend Elvin Thompson, and assistant coach, George Gee, Philadelphia’s James Martin (10 wins – 4 losses – 1 draw – 0 kos) stepped into the ring first for the evening’s second fight—a scheduled six-round super middleweight bout against fellow Philadelphian and cross-town rival, Tariq “Showtime” Green (6 wins – 4 losses – 2 draws – 3 kos). The back of Martin’s robe prominently displayed “Long Live The Bull” in bold letters, a touching tribute to his late father, Jerry “The Bull” Martin of Antigua. Jerry Martin, a three-time light-heavyweight world title challenger, was not only admired in the boxing world but also held a special place in my heart as a fellow West Indian.
In terms of physical attributes, Green stood at 6 feet 1 inch, giving him a considerable advantage over the 5-foot-7 Martin. Despite the anticipation surrounding the matchup, the contest itself fell short in terms of action and excitement. The bout was characterized by excessive clinching, as both boxers preferred to fight at close range, rarely allowing any significant punches to land. The fight’s visual appeal was further diminished by the constant smothering, holding, and hitting during clinches, resulting in an encounter that was, candidly, unattractive and lacking in clean exchanges. Nearly fought toe-to-toe throughout, the match saw little separation or memorable moments, with both men unable to establish dominance or deliver noteworthy offense.
On my scorecard, Green edged out rounds one, three, and four with cleaner shots. The third round was notable when Martin received a warning from referee Clark for a headbutt, which resulted in a pause allowing Green a minute to recover before resuming the action. Martin, meanwhile, did enough to secure the second, fifth, and sixth rounds in my estimation, though the persistent holding and hitting became commonplace. Reverend Thompson’s exasperation was evident in the fifth round as he shouted, “What is this – a love affair?”
Given the lackluster nature of the fight, it was surprising to see a unanimous decision rendered—a shutout victory of 60-54 for Green on all three judges’ scorecards. Once again, this outcome raises questions about the ringside officials, and I continue to advocate for mandatory eye examinations for the “three blind mice” masquerading as judges.
In the third bout of the evening, Philadelphia’s rising junior lightweight Jabril Nobles (7 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 5 kos) continued his impressive ascent toward a potential world title. Nobles delivered a commanding performance, stopping Juan Centeno (11 wins – 26 losses – 4 draws – 3 kos) of New Orleans, Louisiana, at 2:10 of the fifth round in their scheduled six-round contest, winning by technical knockout. The twenty-six-year-old Philadelphian executed the strategic plan set by his trainer, Greg Hackett, establishing his jab early and using precise body punches to systematically break down his thirty-year-old opponent.
From the sound of the opening bell, Nobles set the tone by controlling the action with a sharp jab and powerful hooks to Centeno’s ribcage. In the second round, Centeno answered aggressively, coming forward to press the action. Displaying remarkable composure, Nobles maintained his strategy, calmly using his jab and following up with hard hooks and uppercuts to Centeno’s side and midsection. The third round saw an escalation in action, with both fighters receiving warnings from referee Mardaugh for punches landing behind the head. Later in the round, Nobles landed a punishing body shot that clearly hurt Centeno, who attempted to hide his pain with a smile.
In the fourth round, an exchange resulted in Centeno complaining to the referee about a blow that landed below the beltline. Referee Mardaugh allowed Centeno time to recover, and after a minute, the action resumed. Nobles was undeterred by the infraction and resumed his relentless assault on Centeno’s midsection and ribcage. Centeno showed resilience and responded with a rapid-fire combination just before the bell, demonstrating his fighting spirit despite being on the receiving end of significant punishment.
In the fifth Nobles intensified his body attack, landing hard shots to Centeno’s solar plexus and ribcage. His masterful display of body punching evoked memories of the legendary Mike “The Body Snatcher” McCallum. Although Centeno fought back courageously, he was soon overwhelmed by Nobles’ relentless pressure. Centeno resorted to a high-guard position, bending forward and ceasing to punch back. Recognizing the potential for further harm, the referee stepped in to halt the contest, awarding Nobles a technical knockout victory at 2:10 of round five. This win marked another impressive performance for the talented Philadelphia prospect.
Philadelphia once again lived up to its reputation as “The Capital of Boxing,” delivering an exhilarating night packed with drama, action, and surprises. Each match kept fans engaged throughout the event. The event was a testament to the hard work and dedication of the promoter and staff, whose efforts ensured a seamless and memorable evening for everyone in attendance.
A special acknowledgment goes to Allanah Richman in Public Relations, whose commitment to providing timely and reliable information before and after the fights made the experience smoother for media and fans alike. With such a successful show, anticipation is already being built for the next event. The excitement, professionalism, and passion on display promise even greater things to come for Philadelphia boxing.
It is equally important to recognize the outstanding contributions of all the professionals mentioned in the header of this article. Their dedication and expertise played a pivotal role in ensuring the event’s success. The night was marked by exemplary performances across the board, highlighting the commitment and skill that everyone brought to the occasion.
I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude and sincere respect to all the fans who made the journey from Ireland to attend this event. Your support is especially meaningful to me, as Ireland is the homeland of one of my great-great grandparents. Your presence here enriches the atmosphere and highlights the international connections that continue to make Philadelphia boxing truly special.
In addition, heartfelt appreciation goes out to members of our Philadelphia boxing family who came out to support Eric Hunter. Their attendance underscored the unity and camaraderie that defines our local boxing scene. Among those in the arena tonight were distinguished figures such as Stephen Fulton, former WBC & WBO Super-bantamweight Champion and WBC Featherweight Champion; Jesse “Hollywood” Hart, World Super-middleweight Title Challenger; “The Ring Master” Richard Caraballo; Mimi Gibson; and Rachel Rose. Their support reflects the deep connections and mutual respect within the Philadelphia boxing community. Additionally, it was a pleasure to welcome new writer Lucas Hallman to press-row, marking his first experience covering the excitement and passion of Philadelphia boxing.
Special recognition is due to Nia and Jaimye, our esteemed ring-card ladies, whose presence truly adds an element of charm and elegance to every event. Their unique energy and charisma bring a distinct magic to the show, enhancing the overall atmosphere and making each fight night memorable for participants and spectators alike. Their dedication and spirit exemplify the vibrant tradition that defines Philadelphia’s boxing scene.
Philadelphia continues to stand as “The Capital of Boxing,” a reputation built on the unwavering commitment and enthusiasm of both fans and professionals. The city’s storied boxing heritage remains alive and influential, sustained by the ongoing passion of those who support and participate in the sport. This collective dedication ensures that the legacy of Philadelphia boxing not only endures but thrives with each event.
Welcome to the Twilight Zone!
“Where will he go next? The phantom from another time, this resurrected ghost of a previous nightmare…He’s alive so long as these evils exist. Remember that when he comes to your town…He’s alive because, through these things we keep him alive” (“The Twilight Zone” Season 4, Episode 5).
Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!
ghanson18@icloud.com
