On February 16, heavyweights Seth Mitchell and Johnathon Banks will again take to the ring in Atlantic City, again in the co-feature before an Adrien Broner fight, and this time, with a lot more interest in their matchup, after Banks stopped Mitchell in two rounds last November, derailing the career of an HBO, Golden Boy, and Al Haymon hyped former college football star.
If Mitchell (25-1-1, 19 KO) loses to Banks again, it's not so much that he'll be finished, but one wonders if his psyche can handle back-to-back losses to a man Larry Merchant said he should dominate if he's for real. Banks (29-1-1, 19 KO) is a smart, crafty fighter, and a good one, but Merchant was right: If Mitchell is going to be in the discussion as the next American hope, he shouldn't be losing to guys like Banks.
Can Banks do it again on February 16? Will Mitchell have adjusted and learned from the first loss enough to beat a guy who has lived boxing most of his life?