Jahri Evans In the House – Price Victorious, Wilkins Stops Rodriguez – More Hot Sauce!
By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq.
Date: February 6, 2026
Venue: LIVE Casino, Philadelphia, PA
Promoters: Hard Hitting Promotions, Strict Biz Promotions & LH2 Promotions.
Matchmakers: Rashad Brown, Lonnie Haile II, Greg Pritchett & Manny Rivera
Media Director: Samad Haq
Ring Announcers: Adam Crist
Referees: Dave Braslow & Shawn Clark
Ring Card: Philly Dream Team Models (Amyah, Micaela & Nicole)
Timekeeper: Fredric Blumstein
Ringside Doctor: Dr. Tony Al Amin
Coverage: Movisiontv.com
Photos: Kenny Ludwig & Will Miller (where noted)
Following the recent snowstorm on Sunday, January 25th, which resulted in 9.1 inches of accumulation, the most significant snowfall Philadelphia has experienced in a decade—the city remains covered in snow. I was fortunate that the vehicle parked in front of my car, just beyond the stop sign, had relocated. I was finally able to drive my car to the event, feeling relieved after being stuck for eleven days due to the snow. I could not pass up a card with top prospects like Price, Wilkins, and Hardy.
And I was not alone in my sentiments. In the building tonight – in the ringside VIP seats was Jahri Evans, former NFL star, and current assistant offensive line coach for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl XLIV winner with the New Orleans Saints came to watch and support his friend – main eventer – Dylan Price. Evans, at 6’4″ and 318 lbs., could have been World Heavyweight champion if he had chosen boxing over football at Frankford High School in Philadelphia. Even so, it is almost certain that he will enter the NFL Hall of Fame next year.
Philadelphia super-bantamweight Dylan “The Real Dyl” Price (20 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 14 kos) displayed his wares, boxed strategically, winning all eight rounds on my scorecard in the main event against southpaw Sean Diaz (9 wins – 1 loss – 0 draws – 2 kos) of Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico leaving me wondering what fight were the three judges watching who scored it 77-75 twice for Price and 76-76 draw. It was a classic display of the sweet science by Price who controlled the action with his jab – stalking his opponent from bell to bell. There were no knockdowns or either fighter being in jeopardy of not going the distance. Even though the judges appeared to be experiencing amaurosis fugax, I’m sure that Stevie Wonder would have scored it just as I did.
From the opening bell, Price asserted his dominance by controlling the pace and direction of the fight. He worked efficiently behind a sharp, laser-like jab, consistently landing clean shots to both the head and body of Diaz. While Diaz attempted to counter as he retreated, his efforts only provided Price with the opportunity to highlight his defense, as he skillfully blocked and rolled with incoming punches while maintaining his offensive pressure.
The early rounds followed a similar pattern, with Price dictating the action. The third round saw a brief pause when Price landed with a glancing blow to the back of Diaz’s head, a punch that was not damaging. Diaz, seizing the moment, dramatized the incident, grabbing his neck and writhing on the canvas. Referee Clark called a timeout to assess Diaz’s condition. After about a minute, Diaz confirmed he was able to continue, and the bout resumed with Price unfazed, continuing his disciplined attack.
During the fourth round, Diaz attempted a similar approach, but referee Clark—himself an experienced former amateur boxer—remained unconvinced. Price’s bodywork evoked memories of the legendary Mike “The Body Snatcher” McCallum, as he unleashed precise and punishing shots to Diaz’s midsection. Diaz was unable to solve the puzzle posed by Price’s relentless attack, absorbing body blows in rapid succession. The fifth round saw more competition as Diaz took bigger risks, knowing he was behind on points. Nonetheless, Price remained composed and edged out the exchanges in the final round, leaving little doubt that he had won convincingly. The official scorecards, particularly the 76-76 draw, were unexpected and prompted considerable discussion regarding the judges’ assessments. Price’s performance was commanding, and the expectation was for a clear decision in his favor.
In the co-main event – a scheduled six-round junior-middleweight bout – someone forgot to tell Adonis “The Promise” Wilkins (7 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 6 kos) Philadelphia fighting out of Newark, Delaware that there was no “Fight of the Night” trophy for outstanding performance. Wilkins attacked Juan de la Cruz Rodriguez (13 wins – 32 losses – 1 draw – 7 kos) El Salvador fighting out of Front Royal, Virgina, at the opening bell – hell-bent on separating him from his senses going to the head and body – turning his right hook to the ribcage into an uppercut to the head. Rodriguez fought back gallantly but it was evident that Wilkins was on fire burning a path to an early dismissal. His commitment to bombarding his opponent’s body with hooks and uppercut while advancing or sidestepping was extremely effective. He captured the opening round on my scorecard, and I am confident that all three judges agreed.
Wilkins hurt Rodriguez early in the second stanza with an uppercut and unleashed a barrage of punches to the head and body. However, Rodriguez did not come to lay down and after retreating was able to fight back courageously forcing Wilkins to take his foot off the gas and focus on surgically dissecting the Salvadoran. The round progressed at a good pace with Wilkins committed to his body attack, rolling and blocking his opponent’s counterpunches – being defensively responsible.
The next two rounds were almost identical with Wilkin sticking to the game plan – staying committed to body punching. It was evident that this was a war of attrition and Wilkins was not going to allow Rodriguez to hear the final bell. He deposited Rodriguez on the canvas early in the fifth round with a vicious combination. Although visibly shaken, the downed fighter stood up by the time referee Braslow counted to five; after wiping his gloves, the referee determined he was able to go on. The fight continued and Wilkins hopped on Rodriguez like Trump on a vivacious vixen on Epstein Island – forcing him to take a knee – genuflecting on the canvas – surrendering to the referee who saved him from further punishment by stopping the fight. Wilkins secured victory by technical knockout just 58 seconds into the fifth round, delivering yet another unforgettable performance.
The first fight of the evening showcased teenage standout David “Hot Sauce” Hardy, a nineteen-year-old junior lightweight from Chester, Pennsylvania. Entering the ring with a professional record of 3 wins (all by knockout) and 1 loss, Hardy faced off in a scheduled four-round contest against southpaw “Dangerous” Darnell Jackson (0 wins – 2 losses – 0 draws) of Gary, Indiana, who was seeking his first career victory. Hardy was coming off his first defeat, a decision loss to Nathan Threatt on November 1, 2025, and his return drew a strong contingent of hometown supporters eager to see him rebound.
The opening round saw Jackson appear the busier fighter, utilizing his jab and landing shots to Hardy’s body. Nevertheless, Hardy managed to hurt Jackson with a combination about twenty seconds before the bell. Demonstrating discipline and attentiveness to his corner’s instructions, Hardy used his height (5’10”) and reach advantage to keep Jackson at the end of his jab, periodically landing straight rights and combinations to the body. Jackson, unwavering in his resolve, pushed back energetically and would not allow himself to be defeated.
He stood toe-to-toe with Hardy in the third and fourth rounds, earning the crowd’s admiration and prompting Hardy’s fans to shout, “DJ is about to send him night, night!” Even though Jackson faced tough competition, his determination made a lasting impact on everyone present. Ultimately, Hardy’s tactical boxing and physical advantages secured him a majority decision win, with two judges scoring it 39-37 in his favor and one seeing it as a 38-38 draw. Hardy is back on track!
In the second bout of the night, undefeated twenty-four-year-old super-middleweight Cali Box (5 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos), representing Franklin Township, New Jersey, found himself the recipient of what could only be described as a belated Christmas gift. Despite the action in the ring, the official scores resulted in a majority six-round draw against thirty-six-year-old southpaw Everton Still (4 wins – 2 losses – 1 draw – 2 kos) from Voorhees, New Jersey. One judge saw the fight clearly, scoring it 60-54 in favor of Still, while the other two judges submitted scores of 57-57, declaring the bout a draw.
The opening round lacked significant exchanges, with Box bouncing around the ring in perpetual motion but rarely landing meaningful punches. Still kept his composure, aiming to connect with the moving target and managing to land an occasional jab to Box’s body. The pattern continued into the second round, as Box remained evasive, throwing and landing few punches. In the following four rounds, Still landed several effective punches to Box’s head and body. The audience’s impatience was apparent in the final round, as a spectator called out, “Will somebody throw something!” During the middle of the round, Box was struck by a punch that knocked his mouthpiece out. Referee Braslow stopped the fight to replace it before allowing the match to resume. Still landed the only significant punch of the final round—a straight left—toward its conclusion.
At the end of six rounds, the consensus among observers was clear: Still had done enough to secure victory. I had the fight at 59-55 for Still and felt he was unfairly denied his fifth victory. While Cali Box is undeniably a talented fighter, it was evident that he must learn to harness his athleticism more effectively. Simply bouncing around the ring without delivering meaningful offense is unlikely to lead to future success.
The third bout of the evening showcased undefeated eighteen-year-old super-flyweight Amilliohn “2Smooth” Lovera (2 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) from Philadelphia, who secured a unanimous six-round decision victory over Manuel de Jesus Hernandez Alonso (4 wins – 8 losses – 1 draw – 1 ko) of Piedras Negras, Mexico. The judges’ scorecards read 59-55 and 58-56 twice in favor of Lovera.
The contest was spirited and action-packed, with the young prospect displaying slightly greater activity throughout the fight. Lovera took the opening round on my scorecard, switching between orthodox and southpaw stances and effectively landing punches to both the head and body of Alonso. In the second round, Alonso responded by focusing on body punches, successfully pressuring Lovera and keeping him on the defensive, earning the round.
The third and fourth rounds were tightly matched, with both fighters vying for the judges’ approval. However, in the final two rounds, Lovera’s commitment to body attacks allowed him to pull ahead, securing the rounds and the fight. A score of 58-56 for Lovera was reasonable, given the competitive nature of the bout. Lovera’s performance continues to highlight his promising future in the ring, while Alonso deserves recognition for bringing excitement and intensity to the fight, especially when competing in his opponent’s hometown.
In a period marked by national division and political controversy—evident with President Donald Trump, a 34-count convicted felon, occupying the White House and making attempts to undermine the United States Constitution—the words of President Lyndon B. Johnson gain renewed significance:
“If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pocket for you.”
Amidst such turmoil, boxing stands out as a force that brings people together. This evening’s event was a testament to that unity, as three promoters collaborated to host a single show. The audience reflected a tapestry of races, creeds, and religions, all gathered peacefully, demonstrating the sport’s unique power to foster inclusivity and camaraderie.
Once again, Philadelphia—widely known as “The Capital of Boxing”—delivered an electrifying night for fans. Thanks to Rashad Brown, Lonnie Haile II, Greg Pritchett, Manny Rivera, and Samad Haq for their dedication and hard work in making this event happen. And as we say in Jamaica, “Trump bumboclaat!”
Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!
ghanson18@icloud.com
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