Quick Facts
Biography
Johnathon Maurice Banks (born June 22, 1982) is an American professional boxer and former IBO cruiserweight champion. He currently works as a boxing trainer, most notably for former heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, and was himself trained by the late Emanuel Steward.
Early life
Banks started playing the piano in middle school, but boxing soon took over and dominated that desire. He was told by his maternal Grandfather at the age of two weeks that he would be a great boxer one day.
Amateur career
Prior to turning professional, Banks enjoyed a successful amateur career that saw him become a three-time National Amateur Champion at 178 lbs.
Professional career
He fights out of the Kronk Gym in Detroit.
Banks became the current NABO Cruiserweight Champion after his last fight, knocking out Eliseo Castillo in the fourth round.
After victory's over Derrick Brown (13-3-3) and Imamu Mayfield (25-8-2) Banks lined himself up for a title clash for the IBO Cruiserweight title.
IBO Cruiserweight Championship
On July 12 Banks fought Vincenzo Rossitto for the vacant IBO Cruiserweight Championship, Johnathon won by a Majority decision.
IBF Cruiserweight Championship
He then fought Tomasz Adamek for the IBF Cruiserweight Championship title on February 27 in Newark, NJ at the Prudential Center. Banks was unsuccessful and was knocked out in the eighth round.
WBC Heavweight Semi-Final Eliminator
Banks was set to fight undefeated prospect Seth Mitchell on November 17, 2012 in Atlantic City. He defeated Seth Mitchell by a second-round knockout. In a 2013 rematch, however, Banks dropped a unanimous decision to Mitchell.
Work as a trainer
After the passing of Emmanuel Steward, Banks assumed the role of head trainer of heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko.
In July 2015 Jonathon Banks replaced Chris Okoh as Dillian Whyte's trainer after the latter got injured.
Professional boxing record
| 29 Wins (19 knockouts), 2 Losses, 1 Draw | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 29-3-1 |  Antonio Tarver | TKO | 7 (10) | 2014-12-11 | Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, California | |
| Loss | 29-2-1 | Seth Mitchell | UD | 12 | 2013-06-22 | Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York | Lost WBC International HW title. Banks down in 2nd round. |
| Win | 29-1-1 | Seth Mitchell | TKO | 2(12),2:37 | 2012-11-17 | Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey | Won vacant WBC International HW title. Won NABO Heavyweight Title. WBC Heavweight Semi-Final Eliminator. |
| Win | 28-1-1 | Nicolai "Stone Man" Firtha | UD | 12 | 2012-02-18 |  Munich, Bayern, Germany | NABF Heavyweight Title. 120-108, 119-109, 119-109. |
| Win | 27-1-1 |  Ivica Bacurin | KO | 6 | 2011-09-10 |  Wroclaw, Poland | Bacurin knocked out at 2:59 of the sixth round. |
| Win | 26-1-1 | Julius Long | UD | 10 | 2011-07-02 |  Flint, Michigan, United States | 100-88, 99-87, 99-87. |
| Win | 25-1-1 |  Saul Montana | UD | 12 | 2010-09-11 | Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany | NABF Heavyweight Title. 118-109, 117-110, 116-111. |
| Draw | 24-1-1 | Jason "The Sensation" Gavern | SD | 12 | 2010-05-29 | Gelsenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany | NABF Heavyweight Title. 113-113, 112-114, 115-111. |
| Win | 24-1 | Travis "Freight Train" Walker | TKO | 6 | 2010-03-20 | Düsseldorf, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany | NABF Heavyweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:51 of the sixth round. |
| Win | 23-1 | Marcel "The Highlander" Zeller | TKO | 1 | 2009-12-12 |  Bern, Switzerland | Referee stopped the bout at 0:37 of the first round. |
| Win | 22-1 | Javier "The Monster" Mora | MD | 8 | 2009-09-26 |  Los Angeles, California, United States | 78-74, 79-73, 76-76. |
| Win | 21-1 |  Paul Butlin | KO | 7 | 2009-06-20 | Gelsenkirchen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany | Butlin knocked out at 0:56 of the seventh round. |
| Loss | 20-1 | Tomasz Adamek | TKO | 8 | 2009-02-27 |  Newark, New Jersey, United States | IBF World Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:30 of the eighth round. |
| Win | 20-0 |  Vincenzo Rossitto | MD | 12 | 2008-07-12 | Altona, Hamburg, Germany | IBO World Cruiserweight Title. 115-113, 114-114, 117-114. |
| Win | 19-0 | Imamu Mayfield | TKO | 1 | 2008-02-23 |  New York City, United States | Referee stopped the bout at 1:49 of the first round. |
| Win | 18-0 | Derrick "D-Train" Brown | UD | 12 | 2007-11-15 | Plymouth, Michigan, United States | WBO NABO Cruiserweight Title. 118-108, 119-107, 117-109. |
| Win | 17-0 | Gustavo Enriquez | TKO | 4 | 2007-07-07 | Cologne, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany | WBO NABO Cruiserweight Title. Referee stopped the bout at 1:02 of the fourth round. |
| Win | 16-0 |  Lloyd Bryan | TKO | 3 | 2007-05-18 |  Memphis, Tennessee, United States | |
| Win | 15-0 | Ralf Riemer | TKO | 1 | 2007-03-10 | Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, United States | |
| Win | 14-0 | Zack Page | UD | 8 | 2007-01-25 |  Las Vegas, Nevada, United States | 79-73, 79-73, 78-74. |
| Win | 13-0 | Sebastian Hill | KO | 2 | 2006-12-16 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Hill knocked out at 0:41 of the second round. |
| Win | 12-0 |  Eliseo Castillo | KO | 4 | 2006-07-26 | New York City, United States | WBO NABO Cruiserweight Title. Castillo knocked out at 1:12 of the fourth round. |
| Win | 11-0 | Sebastian Hill | TKO | 1 | 2006-03-10 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Referee stopped the bout at 3:00 of the first round. |
| Win | 10-0 | Mike Word | KO | 5 | 2006-02-02 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Word knocked out at 1:45 of the fifth round. |
| Win | 9-0 | "Broadway" Joe Johnson | KO | 1 | 2005-11-04 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States | Johnson knocked out at 0:37 of the first round. |
| Win | 8-0 | "Teddy" Roosevelt Johnson | KO | 1 | 2005-08-13 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States | Johnson knocked out at 0:26 of the first round. |
| Win | 7-0 | Raymond McLamore | KO | 1 | 2005-07-09 | Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States | McLamore knocked out at 2:28 of the first round. |
| Win | 6-0 | Abdul Shabazz | KO | 1 | 2005-04-29 | Auburn Hills, Michigan, United States | Shabazz knocked out at 0:43 of the first round. |
| Win | 5-0 | Anterio "Bulldog" Vines | KO | 1 | 2005-01-28 | Warren, Michigan, United States | Vines knocked out at 0:31 of the first round. |
| Win | 4-0 | Carl Gathright | UD | 4 | 2004-11-27 |  Rising Sun, Indiana, United States | 40-35, 40-35, 39-36. |
| Win | 3-0 | Travis "Gimme Some" Moore | KO | 1 | 2004-10-27 | Warren, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 2-0 |  Tihomir Dukic | UD | 4 | 2004-09-23 | Temecula, California, United States | 39-37, 40-36, 40-36. |
| Win | 1-0 | Deandre "Showtime" McCole | UD | 4 | 2004-07-30 |  Uncasville, Connecticut, United States | 40-36, 40-36, 40-36. |