Wladimir Klitschko was not nervous against Tyson Fury, says Johnathon Banks
By Isaac Robinson
Last Updated: 09/12/15 2:57pm
Trainer Johnathon Banks has ruled out nerves and age as reasons behind Wladimir Klitschko's defeat to Tyson Fury.
The 39-year-old Ukrainian (64-4-KO53) handed over the WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight titles to Fury (25-0-KO18) in Dusseldorf - suffering a first defeat in 11 years.
But despite Klitschko's low work-rate and a failure to make his famous right-hand a factor in the bout, Banks has dismissed the theories that nerves and/or age may have contributed to defeat.
Banks told Sky Sports News HQ: "It's really a simple thing. Wladimir didn't let his hands go. Why we don't know. We've got to get back to the drawing board and that's about it.
"I don't think he was nervous to let it go. He was there and for whatever reason, just didn't pull the trigger. I don't think it had so much to do with Tyson Fury or nerves or anything like that.
I honestly believe that when a fighter gets old, you don't see it in one morning, one day or one night in a fight. You see it as a build-up.
Johnathon Banks
"I honestly believe that when a fighter gets old, you don't see it in one morning, one day or one night in a fight. You see it as a build-up. Age has already been a build-up process. If it would have been age, I'd have seen it in training camp. Age had nothing to do with it.
"The rematch is going to be a very exciting fight. For me, this is my Thriller in Manila, my Rumble in the Jungle. It's going to be a very exciting fight second time around."
Banks is in London preparing Dillian Whyte for Saturday's British heavyweight title clash with arch-rival Anthony Joshua.
Joshua vs Whyte is exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office, December 12, and is now available to order via your Sky remote or online.
