Johnathon Banks hands Seth Mitchell first career loss

• Banks knocked Mitchell down three times in the second round before the fight was stopped
• Banks handed Mitchell his first career defeat in 27 fights
• Banks dedicated his victory to his late trainer, Emanuel Steward, who passed away Oct. 25

ATLANTIC CITY -- Johnathon Banks wasn't given much of a chance coming into his fight against undefeated heavyweight Seth Mitchell at Boardwalk Hall Saturday night. He was outweighed by 24 pounds.

But he knew that if he was going to get to Mitchell, he'd have to get to him early.

And get him, he did, knocking Mitchell down three times with powerful combinations before referee Eddie Cotton stopped the fight at 2:38 of the second round.

According to CompuBox, Banks landed 25 of 42 power shots in the second round,

An emotional Banks said, "He never saw my left hook. He was not experienced enough to know what to do when he got in trouble, to hold on or grab me, therefore I was able to continue punching him."

Banks dedicated the fight to his late trainer, Emanuel Steward, who passed away on Oct. 25. Banks attended a memorial service for Steward on Tuesday in Detroit. Not only that, he had trained heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko through Klitschko's title fight, a victory against Maruisz Wach, a week earlier.

"This fight was dedicated to Emanuel," said Banks, who worked with Steward in Detroit since he was a teenager and called him a father figure. "I was very motivated for this fight, in light of everything that has happened. I didn't think of myself as an opponent. He's a big tough guy, but he couldn't handle me."

Mitchell (25-1-1, 19 KOs) struggled early in his last fight against Chazz Witherspoon in April, being knocked down and almost out in the first round. But he came back and knocked Witherspoon out in the third round to keep his record intact.

He could not stop the barrages of Banks this time.

"I could have gone on, but the ref did what he had to do," Mitchell said. "I'm good, I'm OK, he just caught me with a good shot. He dazed me and I'm really upset."

Mitchell said it might slow his career a bit, but would not derail it.

"He's a counterpuncher. I threw a shot that was out of reach and he caught me.," Mitchell said. "But I'll bounce back. It won't spoil my dreams.

"Don't be sorry for me, be sorry for my next opponent."