Philly bantamweight Dylan Price feels like he’s on the ball as he climbs the boxing ladder

PHILADELPHIA – Dylan Price would like to make 2024 a big year, next year. The undefeated 25-year-old from Sicklerville, New Jersey, just outside of Philadelphia, is ranked No. 8 at 118 by the IBF, and will face Ernesto Irias this Saturday in the main event of Artie Pelullo’s Banner Promotions from the Cross Insurance. Arena, Portland, Maine.

Price (18-0, 12 knockouts) will be fighting under the banner for the first time.

“I don’t mind saying, I’m underrated in boxing, because you can’t deny my ability,” said Price. “It’s worrying. He wins, but winning doesn’t mean everything in boxing. I know I had a black ball after leaving Mayweather Promotions, and I’ve seen the guys I came up with make millions. It’s really frustrating. I came up with Devin Haney, Shakur Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez, Ryan Garcia. I feel I’m just as talented as them.

“I don’t play the game. I am nobody’s puppet. You can’t deny the talent. There is no way I will be denied if I get my chance. I’m ready to kick the door down this year. That’s why this is so frustrating. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for all those guys, they’ve worked hard to get where they are. I am proud of them. I just want my chance. It’s that simple. You work hard, you win, and the thing you have to show in boxing is that you’re not going anywhere.”

Price has fought twice this year. Pelullo’s Banner Promotions is the prestigious company that created Ruslan Provodnikov and Acelino “Popo” Freitas who is one of the most famous boxers in the history of Brazilian boxing, who also fought for the WBO junior middleweight belt Demetrius Andrade no. Dmitry Pirog is a former WBO middleweight.

“I can’t blame everything on the politics of boxing that ended up at the bottom, we made bad decisions,” said David Price, Dylan’s father and coach. “There are decisions that we should not have taken. Thank you for where we are. We hope this is the start of something for Artie. I love Artie and I hear good things about Artie. We hope this is the beginning of good things.

“I think Artie will get us where we want to go. I know Dylan is frustrated with the politics of everything. I won’t. I can’t blame everything on sports politics.”

Back on April 27, at Temple University’s Liacouras Center, Price knocked out the tough Argentine Ernesto Sebastian Franzolini in two rounds. Price has won three of his previous four against Franzolini by decision.

“Right now, it’s just a case of being patient and building,” David Price said.

Price’s constant response is to keep winning.