Jonathon Banks Expecting KO Victory for Klitschko
The Wladimir Klitschko trainer has reported a spectacular training camp ahead of this weekend’s showdown with Tyson Fury. Well, minus ‘that calf injury’.
“… Wladimir can’t wait for Saturday,” Banks told The Ring. “And actually, it’s not a problem… Camp was great and camp is camp. Wlad is a joy to be around … He’s a workhorse. I got to work to pull him out of the gym!”
Klitschko has been sparring with fellow skyscrapers (well, sort of) Tony Thompson, Ray Austin and Mariusz Wach, and for that reason Banks believes Fury’s size won’t come as a shock.
Though Banks, 33, is more than aware of the threat Fury poses, the trainer is eyeing only one form of victory in Saturday’s Dusseldorf headliner. And it’s the one most boxing analysts and fans are predicting.
“… That’s the only sort of win I’m looking for!” Banks confirmed when asked if a knockout will conclude the Sky Sports PPV dustup. “I was taught by Emanuel [Steward], the man who loved knockouts!”
Of course, not everyone subscribes to that theory. Fury’s younger, taller, rangier, heavier, and possibly more confident than his seasoned multi-belted foe. On Saturday night, we’ll find out just how good Britain’s loudest Heavyweight really is.
Joe Gallagher Labels Carl Frampton ‘Easy’ Work
In the boxing public’s eye, Carl Frampton poses a great threat to WBA titlist Scott Quigg and his unblemished record. But not if you ask Quigg’s trainer, Joe Gallagher, a highly esteemed British trainer.
Frampton may be a fellow unbeaten cerebral banger. He may be highly ranked and the current IBF champ. Meanwhile, Gallagher scoffs at the Irishman’s chances.
“Carl Frampton can only do one of two things – he’ll come forward like he did against Chris Avalos or he’ll revert to his amateur style like he did against Kiko,” Gallagher told Boxing News. “He calls it bamboozling, I call it running. He’ll be on the back foot, poking and poking and moving. But they don’t know what Quigg’s going to do.”
Personally, I think Frampton deserves more praise than that. But Gallagher did make a few valid points about why this eagerly anticipated showdown is taking place so early. Cos’ you know, this is the ‘Mayweather vs Pacquiao’ (bad example?) of the 122 pound division – for UK fans at least.
“They [Frampton and his team] signed with [advisor] Al Haymon so they had visions of fighting in big money blockbusters in America against the likes of Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares. I think when they saw the money on the table for Cruz, and then there was no atmosphere at his fight with Gonzalez, they thought, ‘we best go back to England.’”
Gallagher obviously believes Frampton’s stateside pot of gold isn’t yet filled to the brim. Frampton may have outworked Alejandro Gonzalez in his July US debut, but getting knocked down twice in the 1st round may have tarnished his appeal somewhat. Especially in a world fixated on ‘invincible’ fighters.
Al Haymon and manager Barry McGuigan may have quickly warmed to the idea of a Quigg clash soon after, deeming it the best option financially.
Or, it could simply be that Frampton and his team genuinely believe he’ll crush Quigg, and that the fan-friendly match-up will create greater purse splits against stateside elites in the future. Frampton vs Quigg is a high risk-high reward clash, after all.
What are your thoughts on Wladimir Klitschko’s preparations with Jonathon Banks? And what of Joe Gallagher’s opinions of Carl Frampton? Is Gallagher just posturing by calling Frampton easy work?
