Banks Knocks Out Castillo To Leave Boxing’s Prospect Class

On Wednesday night in New York, Detroit heavyweight Jonathon Banks came back from two first round knockdowns to stun seasoned vet Eliseo Castillo with a fourth round knockout on a Cedrick Kushner Gotham Boxing card at the Hammerstein Ballroom. Banks, 12-0 (9), retained his NABO title with a one punch KO of Castillo, 20-2-1 (15), a former top amateur in Cuba who had previously only lost to current IBF Champion Wladimir Klitschko. Banks was dropped by Castillo’s first right hand in the initial frame and went down again in the follow-up assault before clinching his way through the rest of the round. Castillo went on to successfully box on the outside during in rounds two and three before nailing Castillo with a perfect right hand that floored the Cuban and ended matters.

Also on the bill, New Zealand heavyweight and former world title challenger David Tua continued his comeback, knocking out Chicago’s Edward Guiterrez with a trademark crushing left hook in the fourth and lightweight hot prospect Jorge Teron of the Bronx decisioned rival Armando Cordoba in a six round rematch.