Despite published reports regarding a proposed bout with Detroit’s Jonathan Banks, USBA cruiserweight king Emmanuel Nwodo is willing and ready to face any cruiserweight in the world.

“The bout with Banks was turned down because of the way that it was orchestrated,” said Han Kim, promoter of Nwodo. “We were offered the fight, we accepted the fight and than we read that Banks was fighting someone else. We never heard from his people or got a contract. Than we get a call weeks later that they want to still make the fight on a different date, etc.”

Nwodo, originally from Nigeria, has a professional record of 20-3, 16 KO’s. In his last bout he easily dispatched former NABA champion Chris Thomas in the second round to garner the USBA crown and a #13 world rating from the IBF.

“Emmanuel and Han Kim made a great choice in turning down that fight,” said advisor Ted Panagiotis. “He is the USBA champion, if someone wants to fight him than let’s fight, don’t mess around with dates, etc. As champion he does not need to play musical chairs with dates. Send us a contract with a viable offer, the correct date, giving us the correct time needed for a champion to train and we will make it happen.”

In addition to the victory over Thomas, Nwodo has secured a number of very solid wins over the past few years, making him a very dangerous commodity. In December of 2004 he needed just 1:30 to drop former IBF world cruiserweight champion Imamu Mayfield three times and score a first round TKO. Undefeated Frank Walker also fell to Nwodo in the first round.

“I know that I can be a world champion,” said Nwodo. “I just want a shot and I am willing to fight anyone, anywhere for the opportunity.”

The USBA has recently named former world champion “King” Arthur Williams as the mandatory challenger. This is a challenge that Nwodo is eager to accept.

“We respect Arthur Williams,” said Kim, also a former fighter. “But we will gladly fight him. Any of the big names out there we will take a shot at. Banks, Matt Godfrey, O’Neill Bell, Virgil Hill, BJ Flores, it does not matter we just want to fight.”

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