Recognized heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko hasn’t lost in eight years and sixteen fights. His last loss, against Lamon Brewster in 2004 was his first fight with late trainer Emanuel Steward. It was the legendary Kronk trainer, who stayed with Klitschko after losing to Brewster (they’re first fight together) and brought him back from near-career death to the man to beat in the biggest division in boxing.
But with Steward’s untimely passing, Klitschko is now working with Steward protege Jonathan Banks.
Banks is an active heavyweight (He fights November 17). How that works in camp when you are getting the heavyweight champ ready is anyone’s guess. Can this work? Can a fighter, trained for seven years to be a training successor, take the reigns of a complicated style like Wladimir’s? Will Banks be able to do this to Wladimir when the time is right?
Will Banks have the clout to yell at Klitschko like Emanuel Steward did when they fought Mike Tyson?
On Saturday we may find out the answere if Klitschko is deep into a boring fight with Mariusz Wach and Banks needs to motivate him. Klitschko is a fighter who once displayed a delicate psyche (and even more delicate chin).
Can Banks keep all the moving parts working?
We’ll see.
