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Wladimir trainer Banks could face Vitali with Mitchell win

Phil D. Jay 
WBN Editor
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Picture by Lorenz Baader/publidaddress.de

Heavyweight in line for WBC title shot on Saturday

Unified heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko’s new trainer Johnathon Banks faces Seth Mitchell this weekend, just days after coaching the Ukrainian to victory over Mariusz Wach.

The 30 year-old, who took over training the formidable WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO title holder after the passing of boxing legend Emanuel Steward, knows a win over Mitchell could put him next in line to face his fighter’s brother Vitali next year.

The WBC semi-final eliminator takes place on the DeMarco v Broner undercard this Saturday at the Boardwalk Hall and will see the victor possibly facing the elder Klitschko if a fight with David Haye fails to materialize.

It may be an awkward situation should Banks come through and whether the Detroit fighter would be willing to accept such a fight looks doubtful in the current climate. Another possibility could be a fight with Tyson Fury in March, for the right to face Haye for the vacant title towards the back end of 2013.

Unbeaten power-puncher Mitchell will undoubtedly be a stern challenge for Banks though, and could make any title talk academic if he inflicts a second defeat on the fledgling trainer in Atlantic City.

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