By: Ken Hissner
On the eve of Philadelphia’s No. 1 WBO Contender Jesse “Hard Work” Hart’s world title challenge his former manager Dave Price spoke out to this writer. I put out a story prematurely before getting a response from Price knowing the two may have not been on speaking terms.
Price is a Philadelphia pastor who ran many amateur shows mainly at the 57th & Haverford Recreation Center where Mitch Allen runs the gymnasium and where his great grandson Damon Allen, 13-0-1 who is signed with Golden Boy Promotions trains.
When Hart turned professional Price and Doc Nowicki teamed up creating D&D Management. Price was the manager and Nowicki the promoter of record though they went to Top Rank to handle Hart’s main business. Word was Philly PPV promoter Joe Hand, Sr. had been offered a piece of the action but turned it down. Hart goes between Hand’s gym where his father Eugene “Cyclone” Hart the former knockout artist trains him. For the record this writer has been barred since day one from Hand’s gym. Hart also has main trainer Fred Jenkins, Sr., who runs the gym at 26th & Master’s Recreation Center in the corner. Jenkins is a well-respected person and trainer and recent PA BHOF inductee.
Being told from an undisclosed source Price and Hart were not on speaking terms anymore I failed to get an opinion from Price which was this writer’s error. When I had my article on Hart already submitted Price got back to me and said he had sent a comment that I failed to put up which was true. Price had this to say about Hart: We are very disappointed Jesse Hart did not choose to resign with us. We (Nowicki) guided him for his entire professional career point but nothing lasts forever. We were scheduled to have this fight in June of 2016 and Ramirez (WBO super middleweight champion) withdrew. I think this, Jesse and his team have devised a great game plan and he will show he is head and shoulders above the skill level of Gilberto Ramirez (WBO Super middleweight champion). If he is able to win this fight and with the departure of Andre Ward and a much improved Badu Jack, Jesse will be poised to become a super star in the middleweight division.