Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
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.