Dillian Whyte working with Wladimir Klitschko’s trainer Johnathon Banks

By Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten heavyweight prospect Dillian Whyte (14-0, 11 kOs) has reportedly hired trainer Johnathon Banks to train him for his fight against Irineu Beato Costa Junior for this Saturday in their 8-round bout in Hull. Banks also trains IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, and he previously trained for years with legendary trainer Emanuel Steward.

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Tarver returns v Banks Sept 29

tarver673By Gav Duthie: At 45 years of age Antonio Tarver 30-6 (21) is taking a massive gamble by attempting to break into the heavyweight ranks by fighting Jonathon Banks 29-2-1 (19) on September 29th. 

Up to now Tarver’s most dangerous fight at HW was against Rocky Balboa when he played Mason ‘The Lion’ Dixon. He has fought two proper heavyweight fights one in 2010 and the latest in November last year knocking out journeyman Mike Sheppard in 4 rounds. 

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Banks v Mitchell, doors could open for both fighters

mitchell3443By Hayesa: All the talk this weekend is directed towards Adrien Broner v Paulie Malignaggi, but whilst everyone’s focus remains on this showdown, Boxing fans will be keeping a close eye on the heavyweight rematch between Johnathon Banks 29-1 and Seth Mitchell 25-1 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Going into the last fight many fight fans had Mitchell their favorite to pick up the win, but this was soon blown out the water after Banks showed an incredible performance to stop Mitchell in two rounds.

Mitchell, like many other young Heavyweights, shows much promise and is doing everything he can to provide America with the long awaited champion they have been searching for.

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Banks vs Mitchell, Bika vs Periban on Broner-Malinaggi undercard

banks4By Thomas Cowan: This Saturday, Seth Mitchell faces fellow American heavyweight Johnathon Banks in New York on the Adrien Broner vs Paulie Malinaggi undercard. These two faced each other in Atlantic City in 2012, where heavy favourite Mitchell was blown out in two rounds by Banks. There’s been a lot of hype in the last year about the “new breed” of heavyweights but the hype has been dying down recently.

Mitchell was destroyed by Banks, Deontay Wilder still isn’t fighting anyone remotely good and across the pond David Price was shocked by aging Tony Thompson, while Tyson Fury looked awful against Steve Cunningham. I really can’t see any of these four putting up any kind of fight against a Klitschko brother and I even have serious doubts over whether any of them could last 5 rounds with David Haye.

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Seth Mitchell talks about postponed rematch with Johnathon Banks and the future

Mitchell_large_Open Workout_NovBy Ian Aldous: This past week, I had the opportunity to speak with Seth Mitchell (25-1-1) as he looks to get his career back on track after suffering defeat to Johnathon Banks last November. Despite that defeat, Mitchell and his team will look to press on and get the big fights he craves allowing Seth to prove himself as a genuine world heavyweight contender. Seth spoke with me prior to attending the Lamont Peterson vs. Kendall Holt fight last Friday.

Just ten days away from his rematch with Johnathon Banks and a shot at redemption, Seth Mitchell receives the call that all fighters dread during training. “Someone from my team called and told me that Johnathon Banks had hurt his hand and they were gonna get back with me to let me know the severity of it. They said they think he’d broke his hand but waited for the x-rays just to clarify it, so I found out on Tuesday and then on Wednesday it was official that the fight was pretty much (off). Even if I was going to fight, which was highly unlikely because of the late notice, it wasn’t going to be Johnathon Banks.”

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Johnathon Banks suffers thumb injury, fight with Seth Mitchell off

banks01By Allan Fox: Heavyweight contender Johathon Banks (29-1-1, 19 KO’s) has reportedly suffered a thumb injury and he won’t be able to make his scheduled February 16th rematch against Seth Mitchell (25-1, 19 KO’s) on the undercard of the Adrien Broner vs. Gavin Rees card at the Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

So instead of the Banks-Mitchell fight as the co-main event on the card, the WBC super middleweight eliminator bout between Sakio Bika (30-5-2, 21 KO’s) and Nikola Sjekloca (25-0, 7 KO’s) will be moved up to fill the spot.

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Fury: I want Deontay Wilder, Jennings or Banks in the United States

wilder5By Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten British heavyweight Tyson Fury (20-0, 14 KO’s) says he’s interested in facing American heavyweights Deontay Wilder, Bryant Jennings or Johnathon Banks soon in the United States. Fury, 24, doesn’t say when he plans on fighting one or all of them, only that he wants to fight one. It’s no secret that the talented knockout artist Wilder (26-0, 26 KO’s) tried calling Fury only last year but was only ignored. It kind of reminded me how Adrien Broner tried to get a fight with Ricky Burns and had no luck as well.

Wilder had this to say about Fury at Uk.fighthype.com, saying “I would like a fight with him [Fury] as soon as possible, but he’s a coward. He won’t fight anyone he knows he has a high chance of losing against.”

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A perspective on American heavyweights: Wilder, Arreola, Banks, Mitchell, More!

wilder213 - CopyBy Chris Bax: American heavyweight boxing is in a bit of a rut at the moment. The country where greats such as Muhammad Ali, George foreman, Joe Frazier and Mike Tyson, currently has no one capable of winning world honours.

The American journalists and boxing fans have been banging on about unbeaten Deontay Wilder. Whilst he has some skill and a big right hand, anyone half good could look world class against the opposition he has been facing in his 4 year pro career. The fodder that wilder has faced so far has been awful and some weren’t fit to grace the ring in all honesty.

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