By James Slater: Originally, former cruiserweight title challenger turned unbeaten heavyweight contender Johnathon Banks’ next step in the heavyweight division was to be a fight with powerful veteran DaVarryl Williamson, but “Touch Of Sleep” is now out and Detroit’s Banks, 27-1-1(18) will defend his NABF belt against Ohio’s Nicolai Firtha. The scheduled 12-rounder will go ahead on the under-card of the Feb. 18th Vitali Klitschko-Dereck Chisora clash in Munich, Germany.
Arguably the toughest heavyweight test yet for 29-year-old Banks (whose sole pro loss came at the hands of then IBF 200-pound champ Tomasz Adamek back in Feb. 2009 – since then the former Emanuel Steward-guided contender has won seven and drawn one as a heavy), 32-year-old Firtha came close to scoring a big upset in his last fight.
In England, going up against the unbeaten, heavily-hyped Tyson Fury, Firtha, 20-9-1(8) and not known as an especially hard hitter, shook Fury in the 3rd, causing the giant’s knees to dip. Later stopped (somewhat prematurely) in the 5th-round of what had been a terrific slugfest, “The Stone Man,” as Firtha is known, had proven once again that he can certainly fight. It’s possible, if he enters the ring with Banks in the same mood he was in when he tested Fury, Firtha could overwhelm the often slow-starting Banks.
Banks, having worked a vast number of rounds with both Klitschko brothers in the gym, has experience of his own of course, and Banks is a better boxer than Firtha. But the former cruiserweight will be giving away plenty of height and weight against the man three years his senior (Firtha stands an impressive 6’6” and weighs around 250, Banks is 6’3” and approx 225).
Both men have fought in Germany before: Firtha dropping a competitive ten-round points loss to Alexander Povetkin, Banks fighting in Deutschland seven times, winning six, drawing one).
Banks, with so much natural talent (even if he can be guilty of being somewhat lazy in certain fights; perhaps even slipping into “sparring partner syndrome”) has to be looked at as at least a slight favourite to win next month’s fight. But as Fury found out, Firtha does not go quietly.
Hopefully, the action will be lively and exciting. Firtha can be dangerous early, but Banks should be able to come through the rough patches and win on points.