In case you’re wondering why Wladimir Klitschko‘s current reign as heavyweight champ is the 2nd longest in boxing history…your answer is right here
LET”S GET READY TO RUMBLE!!!! While the sports and boxing world are talking about the mega fight that will be happening on May 2nd between Floyd “Money” Mayweather and Manny Pacquaio, some major bouts are being overlooked as they may have the potential to be another classic one in the making. On April 25, the WBA, IBF, WBO, and The Ring Magazine heavyweight championship will be on the line, as the dominant Wladimir Klitschko will be defending his title against the #1 contender Bryant Jennings at Madison Square Garden.
Jennings comes out of the fighting town of Philadelphia, PA, and has the boxing world in awe as he continues to climb up the heavyweight ranking due to his impressive wins over impressive fighters in the heavyweight class. The father of 4 is currently undefeated with a record of 19-0, with 10 wins coming by the way of knock outs. Standing in his way is the current heavyweight champ Wladimir Klitschko. The brother of former world champ Vitali Klitschko, Wladimir has been dominating the heavyweight class for the past decade. Heading into the bout against Jennings, the Ukraine great is the 2nd longest reigning and defending heavyweight champion of all time. With a record of 63-3, with 53 knock outs, a great credit goes to his head trainer in charge, Jonathon Banks.
Jonathon Banks is a 32-year-old trainer/fighter from out of Detroit, Michigan. Mr. Banks has a record of 29-3-1 with 19 KO’s. Before being chosen as the head trainer for Wladimir Klitschko after the passing of the late great Emmanuel Steward, Banks was a former IBF & IBO Cruiserweight champion. As Klitschko prepares for another title defense, The Source Sports was able to find some time to catch up the champ’s trainer for an exclusive interview…
The Source Sports: Being that you are Wladimir Klitschko’s head trainer, what has been key in your training regime you present to Wladimir that helped him maintain so much success as he’s boxing second longest reigning heavyweight champ of all time?
JB: Actually, it’s just me following my teaching as far as I learned since a very young age from the late Emmanuel Steward. As you know, he was legendary and still is the highest decorated trainer in the history of our sport. I learned a lot from him and I’m just keeping in mind everything he has taught me and just putting into action.
The Source Sports: During the early stages of your career, you were trained by the late great Emmanuel steward who have trained the best of the best in the boxing game. How has your experience of steward training you motivate you to step into that role to help other fighters?
JB: Believe it or not, I never really saw myself as a trainer. I never did, I always help guys out little-by-little because that’s just the type of person I am. If somebody is struggling to change a tire, I would help them out. I see guys struggling in the gym trying to have their stuff together. If I can help them I will. Being around Emmanuel for many years when I was called upon to step onto the role to train the heavyweight champion, I just walk right into it and it seems like I been doing it for years but I haven’t. I stepped into it, everything he (Steward) ever taught me just started coming into my mind and I just start doing it in my training sessions.
The Source Sports: I see in your fighting career, you were 29-3, with 19 KO’s, in those 33 total fights, who was your toughest opponent? And why??
JB: I have to go back to 2012, the first of two fights against Seth Mitchell. He was my toughest opponent. He was tough not so much in the aspect of “I can’t believe I got to fight this dude”, but it was a tough situation as in stepping up in me playing the role of being head trainer of any fighter let alone an elite fighter like the heavyweight champion after the passing of Emmanuel Steward. In the middle of that week, I had to buried my long time friend/father figure and overall it was a just a major thing. It has to be one of the toughest situations I ever experienced in my life.
The Source Sports: I see you come out of the legendary Kronk Gym that produced legends like Tommy “Hit-Man” Hearns, the late great Hector Camacho, Julio Caesar Chavez, Lennox Lewis, and Evander Holyfield just to name a few, how does it feel to know that you came from such a historical place in the boxing game? What’s one experience you will never forget training or spending time in there?
JB: The experience I had in the Kronk Gym was unlike any other gym I ever been to in the world. First of all when you walk in, it’s super hot down there. It’s really really hot. Secondly, the characters of the people down there was just amazing to be around. It was so many fighters that came out to the Kronk Gym and became champions. Some fighters was right there from Detroit and became champions. Experience wise, I remembered I was 14 years old and this guy was like “I want to box a couple of rounds. Say there little man, let’s box a couple of rounds”. I was like “let’s go”. The guy gave me my first black eye but I didn’t care because the guy was Tommy Hearns. Tommy Hearns was one of the first guys that I boxed at the Kronk Gym. After it was over, he told me “Look man, sorry for coming on a little too strong, I had to put the power jab on you”. I didn’t even want that black eye to go away. I was like this is Tommy Hearns, he gave me a black eye. I don’t care what nobody has to say.
The Source Sports: Before a boxing career, it has been brought to our attention that you learned how to play the piano. What made you go from playing the keys to knocking pretenders out the ring?
JB: (chuckles…) I was interested in the piano because I remembered waking up to the sounds of the piano when my mother was playing it. She made me want to learn how to play it since then.
The Source Sports: On top of your head, give your current top 5 artists you would want to come on while making your entrance to the ring.
JB: Number one has to be Eminem because that’s Detroit man, I got to go with him for that. Number two would be Big Sean, Number three would be Trick Trick, Number four would be DMX and Number five would be Rick Ross.
As we are roughly 4 weeks away from the title bout, we definitely got the opportunity to see why Klitschko’s historical dominance as world heavyweight champ has been a legendary ride to remember. With a humbling, outstanding bright veteran like Banks in his corner, Wladimir has the wisdom and brain power to outfight his challenger and to walk out the world’s most famous arena still heavyweight champion of the world. Tune on April 24 as this highly anticipated heavyweight championship bout will be available on pay-per-view. Don’t miss out on this potential classic in the making.
-Omari White
When Omari is not lighting it up from 3 point land in your local gym, he is on twitter talking about music, life and sports. Go follow him on (@SmooveGuyO) and check his timeline out.
