By Robert Morales
The whole Johnathon Banks story that saw him finish training Wladimir Klitschko for his win over Mariusz Wach on Nov. 10 after their trainer, Emanuel Steward, died Oct. 25, then shocking the boxing community with that second-round TKO of previously undefeated Seth Mitchell a week later, is indeed a fine one. Unforgettable even.
What's next? Well, Banks is promoted by K-2 Promotions. Its general manager, Tom Loeffler, said Monday there was a rematch clause in the contract signed with Golden Boy. Golden Boy VP Eric Gomez on Wednesday told BoxingScene.com that Mitchell wants to exercise that clause.
"I have just been informed Seth wants the rematch," Gomez said about 5:30 p.m. West Coast time.
Gomez said he was going to check again with Mitchell on Monday to make sure that is still what he wants. If Mitchell changes his mind and decides to take a tune-up fight to get back on the winning track, Loeffler said there are several possibilities for Banks that include a rematch with Tomasz Adamek, who handed Banks his only loss in 2009 when they were cruiserweights.
"With that win it puts him right in line with some big fights," Loeffler said.
Loeffler said he wouldn't mind seeing Banks take on the winner of the Jan. 26 eliminator between Chris Arreola and Bermane Stiverne. That scenario is unlikely, however, given that the winner of that fight will presumably earn a shot at WBC champion Vitali Klitschko, if he continues to fight; Loeffler said Klitschko, 41, has yet to make that decision.
