Vitali’s sparring partner fighting on Saturday’s undercard
Johnathon Banks is a man who knows both Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko extremely well, better than most people will ever get to know the world’s most famous boxing brothers.
He knows the smell of their sweat, when they’re fatigued, if they’re hungry and most important, how their mental attitudes are. The former cruiserweight knows their strengths and weaknesses, their moods on any given day…getting so close to them that he could probably tell if they had onions for lunch.
But the women in the Klitschkos’ lives need not fear. Banks, now in the heavyweight division, has been a main sparring partner for Wladimir, 33, for the past few years. He is currently part of Vitali’s camp; the Ukrainian will face off against popular Mexican-American Chris Arreola tomorrow night at the Staples Center for Klitschko’s WBC Heavyweight crown.
A member of the Kronk Boxing Team (made famous by trainer Emanuel Steward) Banks was a highly-decorated amateur as a three-time national champ while also winning Michigan’s Junior Olympics, Silver Gloves and Golden Gloves. The Kronk gym is known for turning out several champs including Thomas Hearns, Michael Moorer, Leon Spinks, Eddie Mustafa Muhammad, among many others.
Banks is hoping to follow in these legendary footsteps, adding more victories as he creates his own path to glory. The fighter has been boxing since age 14, and is a NABO Cruiserweight and IBO Cruiserweight Champion. He has even fought in Germany four times (winning all four times). With a record of 21-1 and 15 KOs, his sole defeat came at the hands of the tough Tomasz Adamek in February of this year.
The 6′ 3″ Banks will be featured in the undercard in a ten-round bout with Anaheim’s Javier Mora (22-4-1, 18 KOs). Tomorrow night’s fight, promoted by K2 Promotions in association with Goossen Tutor Promotions, will be televised on HBO.
With his pedigree from the storied Kronk gym, I asked well-known boxing manager, promoter and PR maven Jackie Kallen about the prospect’s arsenal inside the ropes. “After 30 years of working around Emanuel Steward, I know that he would not be wasting his time if he didn’t feel that Johnathon had the goods,” says the Detroit native. “He is not the biggest heavyweight out there, but hopefully he can make up for that with speed and superior boxing ability. Mora is a good test for him. They are close in height and Mora has been in with some good fighters.”
I had some time to meet with the 27-year-old during Vitali’s recent open workout at the Pound4Pound Gym in Los Angeles.
He chats about working with both “Dr. Ironfist” and his younger sibling “Dr. Steelhammer,” Arreola’s chances of winning, and what he would do if he were squaring off against a Klitschko.
I ask him how the training camp’s been with Vitali, 38. “It’s been great! He hits extremely hard and he can move around with his speed,” the Detroit resident replies.
“He’s very similar to his brother, Wladimir,” he answers when I am curious about the differences between the two. “I’ve worked with Wladimir for five years now; I’ve been around both of them a lot. Outside of the ring, they are similar–but in the ring they are more similar!”
When I ask him again about any differences between the Klitschkos, Banks admits with a chuckle, “If the time to meet is 4 p.m., Wladimir will be there by 3:55 or earlier. With Vitali, it’s 4 or 5 when he walks in!”
How has Vitali handled the pressure leading up to this high-profile fight where the Inland Empire’s hero Arreola plans to make history? Banks says it’s business as usual. “Vitali can let loose, focus on training, that’s all that matters,” he says. “He’s been laid back.”
The boxer admires both of the belt holders work ethic while training. “They never sit around and kick their feet up,” said the heavyweight. “That’s what it takes to be a world champion!”
While much ado has been made about challenger Chris Arreola’s weight (at the weigh-in, Arreola actually came in one pound under Vitali’s 252), his training regimen, and the chances (most say slim, no pun intended) of beating the taller, older and more experienced man, I ask Banks for his prediction.
He doesn’t mince words. “My prediction of Arreola is that he’ll do okay,” states Banks, “until he gets hit!
“And if he’s still standing, call me crazy but I don’t see Arreola being able to win. If the bigger man ties you up, what are you gonna do? Arreola is a one-dimensional guy tailor-made for Vitali–and Vitali’s the guy with the KO percentage (92%)!”
The Klitschkos’ longtime sparring partner says it won’t go the full 12 rounds. “It depends on what Arreola does–if he stands in front of him, Vitali’s gonna catch him. So if he just stands there, at the most I give it six rounds.”
So how can “The Nightmare” beat “Dr. Ironfist” and his powerful jab? “I would tell him to try and move around, to work on his lateral movement,” Banks replies.
Banks then shakes his head in regards to an Arreola victory, “A zebra don’t change their strips–you can’t change your game plan.”
Can the zebra (Arreola) change his stripes and walk away with a victory in his quest to be the first Mexican-American heavyweight champ?
We will see tomorrow night if Vitali’s chief sparring partner is right.
Before this marquee matchup, be sure to catch Johnathon Banks in his own battle against another Mexican-American heavyweight, Javier Mora, in the undercard action.
See you at the fights!
Photo by Michele Chong