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As he trains for his big opportunity on national television, you could say Joe Mesi is confident.
"If I can't beat a Derrick Banks, I should think about a career change," the unbeaten Tonawanda heavyweight said after finishing a training session at Buffalo's Northwest Community Center.
Banks is the latest in a series of revolving opponents for Mesi's appearance on ESPN2's "Friday Night Fights." He replaced Sherman Williams, who suffered an elbow injury nine days before the bout, which is scheduled for Friday at Foxwoods Casino in Connecticut.
There was no trace of a boast in Mesi's voice. But it was pretty insightful analysis.
Little more than two years ago, Banks was in a similar position to Mesi's today -- young, with an impressive record and looking to break into boxing's upper echelon. At 18-3-1, he was matched with Ed Mahone for the North American Boxing Organization's heavyweight title. Mahone bounced Banks off the floor like a basketball, scoring seven knockdowns before the scheduled 12-rounder was stopped in the 10th.
After winning a 10-round decision over the aforementioned Williams, Banks lost decisions to Monte Barrett, Charles Shufford, 1996 Olympic Bronze Medalist Nate Jones and Tommy Martin. His 12-round defeat to Jones was for another minor-league belt, that of the North American Boxing Federation (which, of course, should never be confused with the North American Boxing Organization).
Banks' durability, and relative lack of punching power, earned him a shot at Kirk Johnson (ranked No. 1 by the World Boxing Association, one of the Big Three sanctioning bodies). Johnson capped Banks' 15-month-long agony of defeat by flooring him with a left hook and stopping him before the first round ended. Banks' record is 20-9-1.
A win over Banks wouldn't propel anybody directly into the Top 10. And it's difficult to make the argument that the Detroit journeyman marks a major upgrade in opposition. But Mesi doesn't see Banks as padding for his 20-0 record.
"He's very durable," Mesi said. "Johnson got him early, but he's gone 10 and 12 rounds. You can't question his heart or conditioning."
And unlike Mesi's last two opponents, Jorge Luis Gonzalez and Bert Cooper, the 30-year-old Banks isn't necessarily at the tail end of his career. Other than Roane (a career punching bag who carries a career record of 7-31-3, and that's not a typo), most of his opponents have been solid heavyweights.
"I consider it a step up," Mesi said. "He's not past his prime, he's near my age. He's quicker and he's more athletic (than Gonzalez and Cooper)."
Mesi said the late change from Williams to Banks doesn't faze him. Not after Cooper replaced Jorge Dascola a little more than a week before their July 27 bout at the Niagara Falls Convention and Civic Center, or after engaging in varying levels of preparation for Cliff Couser, Kevin McBridge, Keith McKnight, Couser again and Williams this time around.
"I'm used to that in this business," Mesi said. "(Banks) has a very similar record to Sherman Williams and he's a journeyman-type like Williams, but he has a different style."
With just seven knockouts to his credit, Banks presents a very different challenge than Cooper, who retained vicious power throughout his checkered career.
"He shows more movement than Cooper -- he's slippery and he boxes, but he will stand and trade with you at times," Mesi said.
After getting ready for seven potential opponents in the last three months, Mesi said he's ready for anything.
"I'm adaptable as well," Mesi said. "I can change styles from round to round if I need to." Friday's bout won't lead directly to a title shot for Mesi, but does provide vital exposure outside Western New York. He's fought on national television before, but in preliminary six- and eight-round bouts. He and Banks are scheduled to go 10 rounds as the supporting feature to the main event between fellow heavyweights Lou Savarese and David Bostice. The fight is Mesi's first with Sugar Ray Leonard Productions, which has a multi-fight deal with ESPN2.
"I was told a win would mean a main event (on ESPN2) or a shot on HBO," Mesi said.
That fight would be against someone ranked above Mesi, like Barrett or Francois Botha, best remembered for winning a few rounds from Mike Tyson before getting knocked out.
But first, there's the matter of beating Banks.
"This is an important step," Mesi said. "I can't let anything get away from me."
A day after Mesi tries to make a splash on the national boxing scene, two Niagara Falls fighters make their professional debuts in Guelph, Ont.
DeMario Crittenden, a former wrestling star at Niagara Falls High School, takes on Rafael Romero in a four-round bantamweight (118 pounds) bout at the Guelph Entertainment Center at 50 Woolwich St.
Crittenden was ranked No. 6 in the country among amateurs in his weight class, having won two New York State Golden Gloves open division titles and a bronze medal at nationals.
Also on the card, Ken Flores of Niagara Falls faces Tony Ferraro in another four-rounder at 172 pounds. Having won New York State Golden Gloves titles in 1995 and 1999 while fighting as Ken Olson, Flores is using his mother's maiden name as a professional, according to trainer Ray Casal.
Both fighters train at Casal's School of Fighting Arts on Hyde Park Boulevard.