Thank You Jesus! Thank You Lord! Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Chester, PA Deliver Excitement As Holden Decisions Threatt And Haywood Scores Another Knockout!
By: George H. Hanson Jr., Esq.
Date: March 28, 2026
Venue: Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack, Chester, PA
Promoters: Greg Pritchett & Rashad Brown—Strict Biz Promotions
Matchmakers: Rashad Brown, Helen Hall & Greg Pritchett
Ring Announcer: Adam Crist
Referees: Shawn Clark & Eric Dali
Ring Card Ladies: Trinity Brown, Mya Cardona & Jade Williams
Doctor: Alberto Giardini
Timekeeper: Fredric Blumstein
Coverage: FCLTV.com
Commentators: Marc Jackson Sr., Bradley Featherstone & Simon “One Punch” Carr
Gloves: “Put Up Your Dukes” brand – www.kdukesboxing.com
Photos: Darryl Cobb Jr.
Readers frequently wonder about the inspiration behind my article titles. Typically, these titles are influenced by events that unfold during the show, what I happen to be watching while writing, or even a song that lingers in my mind. For this piece, the process was no different. While I was watching “Uptown Saturday Night” (1974), featuring Harry Belafonte and Sidney Poitier—a film I’ve seen at least fifty times—the church scene’s refrain, “Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord,” resonated with me. I chose this memorable phrase as the title of the article, not only because it was on my mind, but also because it perfectly captured the essence of last night’s event. During the show, two intense knockouts occurred. Despite the severity of these moments, both fighters were able to leave the ring safely and unharmed. The phrase “Thank you Jesus. Thank you Lord” felt especially fitting, serving as a grateful acknowledgment that the evening ended without serious injury.
The night’s main event showcased a six-round junior-lightweight contest between Jalique “No Duck” Holden (8 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 6 kos) from Wilmington, Delaware, and southpaw Nathan “The Ultimate” Threatt (5 wins – I loss – 1 draw – 2 kos) from Moncks Corner, South Carolina. Holden was returning to the ring after a sixteen-month hiatus, last competing on November 23, 2024, when he earned a majority decision victory over Jeovanny Antonio Tellez.
My previous experience watching Holden was during his sixth professional bout against Romel Tsanimp on June 25, 2024, where he claimed a technical knockout in the second round of a scheduled six-rounder. Before that fight, the crowd’s energy surged as Movie Director Terrance “The Dream” Tykeem entered the ring, leading his famous chant: “It’s time to brawl y’all!” Holden certainly delivered, dispatching his opponent quickly.
I observed Threatt ringside at this venue on November 1, 2025, when he handed Chester native David “Hot Sauce” Hardy his only defeat, winning a six-round split-decision and living up to his nickname as “The Ultimate” threat. Threatt, a skilled and talented competitor, was last in action on January 16, 2026, securing a third-round disqualification victory over Eduardo Tarango in North Carolina.
As the main event began, Threatt waited in the ring while Holden made his entrance, accompanied by his team wearing yellow hoodies emblazoned with “Kill Bill.” Referee Clark issued pre-fight instructions, and both fighters stood eye-to-eye, each measuring 5 ft. 9 inches, indicating no height advantage.
The opening round was a typical “feeling out” session, with Threatt being slightly more active and earning the round on my scorecard. Holden responded in the second round with urgency, stunning Threatt with a left hook in the first ten seconds. Threatt regained composure and worked behind his jab as Holden pushed forward. Near the round’s end, Holden landed a right hand that sent Threatt briefly to his knee, prompting referee Clark to recognize the knockdown and award Holden a point. Since Holden was already winning the round 10-9, the knockdown made it a 10-8 round for him under the 10-point Must System. It’s worth clarifying that a knockdown doesn’t automatically result in a 10-8 round; if Threatt had scored a knockdown while losing the round 10-9, the round would be 10-10.
The fight remained entertaining, highlighted by Holden’s corner’s vocal support. In the third round, one of Holden’s handlers, likely Doug Pettiford, shouted, “I need for you to keep your jab in his fucking face!” Holden’s jab was effective, causing Threatt’s left eye to swell and turn a deep purple. Holden won the round on my card. The fourth round was closely contested, with both boxers working behind their jabs to gain an advantage. Holden took the final two rounds, boxing smartly and using his jab and combinations as Threatt pursued him—blood streaming from Threatt’s nose and his left eye reminiscent of Petey, the dog from “Our Gang” (“The Little Rascals”) known for the ring around his eye. The judges’ scores reflected the action: two favored Holden (59-54 and 58-55), while the third scored it for Threatt (57-56)—a decision that seemed questionable. Ultimately, Holden emerged victorious by split-decision after an intense and memorable bout.
The co-main event, which was the fifth bout of the evening, featured Philadelphia’s twenty-year-old Tyreem “Moo Banga” Haywood (7 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 7 kos) against Kashif El-Amin (2 wins – 2 losses – 1 draw – 0 kos) from Wilmington, North Carolina. El-Amin, ten years Haywood’s senior, was set to face Haywood in a scheduled six-round contest. Notably, none of Haywood’s previous opponents had made it past the opening round, highlighting his knockout prowess. While Philadelphia is widely regarded as “The Capital of Boxing”—the heartbeat of the sweet science in America—North Carolina is often considered a source of journeymen and undertrained, overmatched fighters. There was uncertainty over whether El-Amin would complete his ring-walk or be eliminated early in the match. El-Amin patiently waited in the ring for nearly ten minutes before Haywood made his entrance, accompanied by light-heavyweight contender Atif “Lord Pretty Calvo” Oberlton and his entourage, with a hip-hop track blasting from the loudspeakers. Unexpectedly, Haywood’s ring-walk lasted three times longer than the actual fight.
After referee Dali delivered pre-fight instructions, both fighters retreated to their corners, and the match commenced. Haywood approached with high guard, hands positioned just above his ears. His first punch—a left uppercut—countered El-Amin’s jab and landed cleanly on El-Amin’s chin, dropping him to the canvas. El-Amin rose at the count of two, referee Dali dusted his gloves and deemed him fit to continue. Haywood pressed forward relentlessly, determined not to let El-Amin survive the round. He soon caught the retreating El-Amin with a straight right, followed by a powerful left hook that sent El-Amin backward to the canvas, his buttocks striking first, then his back, as if tossed.
Blood streamed from El-Amin’s nose, prompting referee Dali to halt the contest immediately and call for the ringside doctor. Fortunately, he was upright within a minute, and Haywood was declared the winner by knockout at 1:03 of the opening round.
Tommy “Hitman” Hearns is my favorite fighter. Tyreem “Moo Banga” Haywood is my second favorite fighter—as stated in Episode 175 of YouTube Boxing 396, aired on May 18, 2018, when he was just twelve years old. Haywood’s exceptional talent has been apparent since his days as an amateur standout at eight years old, and I have followed his development closely ever since. Although he possesses remarkable talent and charisma—attributes that could lead him to become a champion across multiple weight divisions—there are legitimate concerns about his career progression. These doubts stem from the level of competition he has faced thus far. The quality of Haywood’s opponents has been questioned, suggesting that his impressive record may not accurately reflect his true potential. The concern is that, without facing tougher adversaries, his development as a fighter could be hindered, potentially limiting his ability to reach the highest levels of boxing.
Haywood’s eight opponents collectively hold a record of 12 wins – 28 losses – 2 draws – 6 kos. Only one has a winning record (3 wins – 2 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos), while three have no wins, combining for 0 wins, 5 losses, and 1 draw. The comparison is drawn to Philadelphia junior-middleweight Tyrone Brunson, who, from April 2005 to March 2008, secured nineteen consecutive first-round knockouts – a feat that earned him a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records. However, Brunson’s reliance on facing underqualified opponents ultimately stunted his development, leading to a career record of 28 wins – 8 losses – 2 draws – 25 kos, with five knockout losses in his eight defeats before retiring in 2019. Haywood may be headed down a similar path, with growth and development potentially hindered by an impressive record against lackluster competition. The observation concludes with a metaphor: “You cannot develop into a lion when you are raised with house cats!”—hoping that Haywood’s handlers will heed Brunson’s example and extract valuable lessons for their fighter’s future.
The night began with a heavyweight showdown between southpaw Edward “War” Millard, standing at 6 ft 4 inches from Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, and 5 ft 9 inches Anthony Wilson of Winchester, Virginia. Millard, entering the ring with a record of 1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 kos, faced Wilson, who was seeking his first victory after a debut loss. The bout was scheduled for four rounds. Millard, under the guidance of his trainer Glen Turner, wasted no time at the opening bell. He immediately worked behind his jab, methodically searching for opportunities to land his powerful punches. Both fighters exchanged jabs, but the taller Millard pressed the action, taking control of the ring. Midway through the round, Millard unleashed a rapid combination that dropped Wilson to the canvas. Wilson quickly regained his footing as referee Dali reached the count of three, wiped his gloves, and allowed the match to continue.
The action resumed with Millard continuing to utilize his jab, while Wilson, despite being shorter, attempted to respond in kind. Moments later, Millard struck again, catching Wilson with a right hook that sent him down for the second time. Wilson was up almost immediately as the count reached two, and referee Dali again checked his condition before signaling for the fight to proceed. Not long after, Millard delivered another decisive blow—a right hook followed by a straight left—that left Wilson’s legs unsteady. Recognizing Wilson’s vulnerable state, referee Dali promptly stopped the contest, declaring Millard the winner by technical knockout at 2:18 of the opening round.
The second matchup of the evening featured thirty-nine-year-old trainer/professional boxer Greg “Hotshot” Hackett (4 wins – 24 losses – 1 draw – 0 kos) Philadelphia against Chris “Sandman” Thomas, twenty-eight years old, hailing from Forked River, New Jersey. Thomas entered the ring with a more impressive record: (15 wins – 3 losses – 2 draws – 10 kos). The contest was scheduled for four rounds in the heavyweight division. Notably, Hackett, standing at just 5 feet 6 inches, has defied expectations by continuing to compete in the heavyweight ranks eighteen years after his professional debut—a four-round unanimous decision loss to super-middleweight Joel Delapaz on April 11, 2008, at The Legendary Blue Horizon.
Hackett was first to emerge from the dressing room, accompanied by his son Mekhi and Billie Briscoe, with Anita Baker’s “Sweet Love” playing over the house speakers. Just three weeks prior, on May 7, Hackett had been in the corner guiding junior-lightweight prospect Jabril Nobles to his eighth victory at The Alan Horowitz Sixth Man Center in Philadelphia for Teflon Promotions. The Philadelphia boxing scene is known for its unique dynamic—trainers fight while fighters train—making anything possible.
Chris “Sandman” Thomas entered the arena a minute after Hackett, his appearance striking and memorable. Sporting numerous tattoos that covered much of his body, he gave the impression of a walking piece of graffiti art. As he made his way to the ring, a rap song played, though its lyrics were unfamiliar to me. Thomas’s unique style and entrance set the stage for the contest ahead, contrasting sharply with Hackett’s more traditional introduction.
Adam Christ delivered a magnanimous introduction for Hackett, listing numerous names and titles—though “Gorgeous Gregi” and the “Peacock of Germantown” stood out. Thomas introduced simply as “Sandman,” maintained a calm and composed demeanor, reminiscent of a monk. Excitement waned in the first round as frequent holding dominated the fight. Hackett swung wildly with left hooks, while Thomas threw quick, ineffective flurries, resembling an amateur contest where he was behind on the cards.
The bout was not visually appealing, but Hackett’s activity earned him the first two rounds, highlighted by a left hook in the second. Thomas claimed the remaining rounds, landing quick flurries whenever the fighters were not tied up. Despite the lack of sustained action, Hackett kept the crowd engaged, talking to the audience while throwing punches and addressing any outbursts he heard. He also spoke to referee Clark, accusing Thomas of various infractions. Simon “One Punch” Carr, seated behind me, added to the entertainment by yelling throughout the sixth round, “We got a hookah pipe waiting for you Greg!” Hackett’s interaction with the crowd turned a lackluster fight into an entertaining event.
The judges’ scorecards reflected Thomas’s control: one judge scored it a shut-out at 60-54, while the other two had it 59-55—all in favor of Thomas. With this unanimous decision, Chris Thomas handed Greg Hackett his twenty-fifth career loss, while Hackett continued to embody the spirit and resilience of Philadelphia boxing.
In the third bout of the evening, twenty-four-year-old Philadelphia light-heavyweight Thomas “Bam Bam” Santiago (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) faced thirty-nine-year-old Elias “The American Dream” Ajuwa (0 wins – 7 losses – 1 draw) originally from Nigeria and now fighting out of Delaware. I was in press row for Ajuwa’s previous fight on March 7 at The Alan Horowitz Sixth Man Center in Philadelphia, promoted by Teflon Promotions. In that bout—a middleweight contest—Ajuwa lost a hard-fought four-round decision to debuting two-time Irish National Amateur Champion Cahir Gormley. For tonight’s contest, Ajuwa moved up two weight classes to compete against Santiago, who stood six feet tall and was supported by a large contingent of family and fans filling the arena.
The fight proved challenging for both the fighters and the judges. Clean, decisive punches were rare throughout the match, making it difficult to score with confidence. Ajuwa’s awkward style posed a particular problem for the southpaw Santiago, who struggled to decode his opponent’s approach. Being the shorter man, Ajuwa pressed forward aggressively and attempted to land damaging shots. Santiago, meanwhile, had trouble timing his adversary and understanding his rhythm and habits.
Santiago relied on his jab to keep the Nigerian fighter at bay, but Ajuwa managed to close the distance, throwing wild overhand rights. Santiago’s head movement often allowed him to intercept or avoid these attacks, preventing Ajuwa from landing cleanly. The competitive nature of the bout was reflected in the scoring: one judge awarded two rounds to each fighter, resulting in a 39-38 score. The remaining two judges gave Santiago the edge, scoring the contest 40-36 and 39-37, respectively. Ultimately, Santiago emerged victorious by majority decision.
The fourth bout was a boxing purist’s dream – a match filled with action and intrigue – strategy and sophistication – two highly skilled players on a chess board disguised as a boxing ring! Two-time US National Amateur Champion and 2024 Olympic Games alternate – 6 ft 6 inches – 240 lbs. heavyweight Steven “WOP” Williams (2 wins – 0 losses – 0 draws – 2 kos) Chester, Pennsylvania squared off against 6 ft 2 inches – 260 lbs. Luis Zapata-Dominguez (1 win – 0 losses – 0 draws – 1 ko) Sandusky, Ohio in a scheduled four rounder.
Steven Williams began the fight employing his long-left jab, establishing control early while Luis Zapata-Dominguez focused his attacks on Williams’s body. Williams’s performance in the opening round was reminiscent of a young Larry Holmes; his persistent jab proved decisive and earned him the round on my scorecard. As the second round got underway, Williams shifted his focus to Dominguez’s ribcage and midsection, delivering powerful body shots. Both fighters maintained a brisk pace throughout the bout, one more commonly seen in lighter weight divisions. The final two rounds continued in this energetic fashion, with Williams adapting his strategy—abandoning long-range tactics to fight up close, demonstrating his versatility.
Despite Williams’s relentless offense, Dominguez refused to yield. He fired back with determination, making it clear he came to Chester to compete fiercely rather than submit. Both athletes showcased impressive defensive skills, rolling and parrying punches—abilities not always seen in boxers so early in their professional careers.
The contest proved exciting and competitive. At the conclusion, the judges’ scorecards reflected the closeness of the bout: two judges scored it 39-37 in favor of Williams, while the third saw it as a 38-38 draw. Williams was awarded the victory by majority decision in what was arguably the best fight of the night. Dominguez’s performance highlighted his talent and potential, and one hopes a promoter will soon sign him.
The event was another outstanding boxing showcase, delivered once again by Strict Biz Promotions. The atmosphere and quality of the card made it preferable to staying home and watching WBC & WBO Junior-middleweight Champion Sebastian Fundora face former WBA & WBC Welterweight Champion Keith Thurman—a bout I confidently predicted would end with Fundora stopping Thurman. However, the opportunity to witness Tyreem Haywood in his eighth fight, my second favorite fighter, was far more compelling than watching Fundora deliver a boxing lesson to Thurman.
Thank you Jesus! Thank you Lord!
Continue to support the sweet science, and remember, always carry your mouthpiece!
ghanson18@icloud.com
