By James Slater: A potentially interesting ten-round heavyweight bout has been added to the upcoming Vitali Klitschko-Tomasz Adamek bill in Poland. According to ESPN.com and Boxrec.com, former IBF cruiserweight title challenger Johnathon banks of Detroit will meet ultra-experienced former two-time heavyweight title challenger Fres Oquendo of Puerto Rico.
Banks – whose sole career loss came against Tomasz Adamek, who will of course be co-topping the September 10th card along with WBC heavyweight king Vitali Kitschko – has gained a ton of experience by sparring many rounds with both Klitschko brothers, and he is also currently unbeaten as a heavyweight. The 29-year-old made the move up to heavyweight in June of 2009, and since then he has gone 6-0-1(3). The draw came against Jason Gavern, on the under-card of Vitali’s win over Albert Sosnowski. Now, against the seasoned Oquendo, Banks faces his biggest test yet at heavyweight.
Oquendo, 32-7(21) may be 38, but he has proven his retained skill-level in recent fights; even though he has picked up just three wins from his last six fights. The victim of at least two bad decisions during this period, the Puerto Rican was deemed unlucky to have lost on points to James Toney (in Dec. 2008) and then to Jean Marc Mormeck and Oliver McCall (in May and Dec. of last year respectively). Still capable at the top level, Oquendo could well give Banks, 26-1-1(17) his first heavyweight loss.
The scheduled ten-rounder has a great chance of going the limit in my opinion. Banks did score an eye-catching stoppage over Travis “Freight Train” Walker a while back, and Oquendo has somewhat underrated punching power, but the two are more boxer than puncher. Both men have also given us exciting and, at other times, dull affairs. It’s anyone’s guess what next Saturday’s fight will turn out like.
I like Oquendo’s greater experience, and I feel he will use his brain to overcome Banks’ youth and possible aggression. Again, I don’t see a KO (and the fight may well prove to be a disappointing clash of styles), but I think we will see some decent skills on display as we await that night’s main event.
I pick “Fast” Fres to prevail via close decision.