by James Slater – Tonight in Germany, on the under-card of the big Klitschko-Chambers heavyweight title fight, 27-year-old former cruiserweight Johnathon banks of Detroit scored a sensational, if quite bizarre-looking, 6th-round TKO over Travis “Freight Train” Walker.
After what had been a largely uneventful fight by most standards, the stunning ending came after Banks scored with a big overhand right to the temple area of the advancing Walker. Scoring with the shot and then falling to the canvas after landing the punch, Banks was followed to the mat by the 30-year-old Texan. At first it looked as though Walker had simply lost his footing also, but the manner in which he landed flat on his face and then wobbled to his unsteady feet let viewers know how badly hurt the older man was. Though Walker bravely beat the count, Referee Daniel Van De Wiele didn’t hesitate at all in calling the fight off..
The official time was one-minute and 51-seconds of the 6th, and Banks claimed the vacant NABF belt in improving to 24-1(17). Walker, who may have to give his career a serious think, fell to 34-4-1(28).
Both men were in good physical condition tonight and both fighters came to win, knowing how a loss would send them into no man’s land, career-wise. Despite this, the action failed to catch fire until the out-of-nowhere finish. Banks, much the faster and quicker man, looked nice and loose as he boxed and moved on his toes. Walker, as expected the heavier man (111 KG to Banks’ 102KG) was the aggressor all night, yet he was loading up on his shots too much and his reflexes were not as sharp as those of his opponent.
There was no standout round to speak of in terms of action, but the fight, though no thriller, was no stinker either. Banks was the more varied fighter, throwing out quick left jabs, the occasional right hand lead and some good right hands to the head in general. Walker landed the odd good left jab himself, but generally he was just too slow to get anything going; despite trying as best as he could.
By the 5th-round the action was beginning get a little messy, and at one point Walker tried to rough Banks up on the inside – with his weight and strength advantages, this being his best option. But soon after, Walker was again loading up and landing nothing. By this stage I had Banks well up on points. Then came the surely You-Tube-bound finish!
Walker, caught by that right hand high on the head, fell in a delayed action, falling flat on his face. Banks must have been as surprised as the crowd was at what happened, and as he regained his own feet the fight was over with. Walker objected to the stoppage, but his legs had clearly gone.
It remains to be seen how far the Detroit man can go as a heavyweight, but with the kind of punching he showed tonight, it’s going to be interesting finding out.