KELCIE BANKS

Nickname: "Mr. Mix" 

   Kelcie had an extensive and very successful amateur career that saw him win numerous national and international tournaments including a silver medal in the 1985 World Cup, and gold medals in the 1986 World Amateur Championships, and the 1987 Pan American Games, and a berth on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team.  His amateur record is reported at 480-86.

   He turned pro in April of 1989 with a 6 round decision win over Daniel Flores at the Great Western Forum in Los Angeles. He was then defeated by Leonardo Moreno in the next fight - being ko'd in round 3.

   Banks learned a lesson in that upset loss and ran off a string of victories that included a mix of different styles and different levels of competition, he won them all, 15 in a row, among those 15 were Benji Vigil (8-0), Bobby Brewer (7-1), Terry Southerland (8-0), Rodney Wilson (9-0-2), Felix Gonzalez (16-7-1), and scoring a near shutout unanimous decision win over former California State Featherweight Champion Benny Lopez (16-8).

  

   Feb. 1991 saw Banks step up into a test against highly regarded Mexican fighter Oscar Lopez (16-4), it was a hard fought 8 rounder that ended in a split draw.  Patricia Morse Jarman saw it as a near shutout for Banks at 79-73, Paul Smith had it close for Lopez at 77-75, and Al Siciliano scored it 76-76.  Kelcie's record now stood at 16-1-1, and he was still a closely watched prospect.

   His level of competition was stepped up and he scored wins over Marco Antonio Ramirez, and Tim Brooks.  Those two unanimous decision wins came as part of the Forum's Lightweight Tournament, which put him into the championship bout against world ranked Fidel Avendano (30-1).  

   August 26, 1991 was the big night as Banks faced his biggest test to date.  For Avendano it was the same story, his toughest test to that point. It was a great matchup of young prospects looking to step onto the world title stage. The fight lived up to all expectations and after 12 grueling rounds including Banks missing with a right hand punch that caused him to fall off balance, which was scored a knockdown by the referee, it came down to the scorecards. The judges saw the fight 115-113, 116-114, and 119-111 all in favor of Avendano.

   It was a disappointing loss for Banks, but at 18-2-1 he still had a solid record, and had shown his self to be competitive against top notch fighters. From that point on his career took a roller-coaster course.

   His next fight was an easy 2nd round tko win over Juan Jose Castaneda followed by a half-division move up in weight class to face an unbeaten contender in Ike Quartey (14-0) that saw Banks get ko'd in round 7 by the man who would go on to become WBA Welterweight world champion.

   A bounce-back unanimous 6-round win over journeyman Leo Mancillas tuned him up for a huge showdown match-up against fellow 1988 U.S. Olympic Team member Todd Foster (25-2)

Todd Foster had everything going his way against Banks

It was a very tough challenge faced by Banks who fought in the Featherweight division in those Olympic games, while Foster fought in the Light Welterweight division. There was no doubt that Foster was the naturally bigger fighter. And to make it even a steeper mountain to climb, the fight took place in Foster's home state of Montana! There were too many factors against Kelcie Banks, and it showed in the fight as Foster was just too strong and sharp that night for Banks. It was a lopsided unanimous 10-round win for Todd Foster on scores of 97-92, 99-92, and 100-87 on the official scorecards.

   Kelcie "Mr. Mix" Banks continued on and after a nice bounce-back win over 1-7 Jose Herrera, he won a rough-tough 10-round battle as he moved up into the welterweight division against Ray Collins (8-3-1) - climbing off of the deck in the final round to get the split decision victory. It would be his last.

   5 months later he took on another huge challenge as he faced off with a man who would go on to win the USBA Jr. Middleweight, and WBC World Middleweight titles - Keith Holmes (20-1), and it was another fight against a naturally bigger fighter in the opponent's home town!  Just like the Todd Foster fight, it was too much to overcome, and Banks was dropped in the opening round before being stopped at 1:48 of round 3. 

   Banks came back nearly a year-and-a-half later to fight a 6 round draw against Reno, Nevada's John Bryant (8-10-2), and then 2+ years later traveled to Denmark where he was stopped in the opening round against IBC Jr. Welterweight king Soren Sondergaard (32-1) in a non-title 8-round bout.

   It was an amazing journey for a man who lived and breathed boxing.  After an amazing amateur career that spanned nearly 550 fights, and a challenging professional career of  30 fights that never saw him challenge for a world title, but did see him pitted against fighters that woulds become champions, Kelcie Banks name is remembered fondly by boxing fans across the globe with great respect for his skills and heart.  He achieved much glory in the amateur ranks, and headlined some great shows that were broadcast on espn and other networks.

   Kelcie Banks finished up his Professional campaign with a nice record of 22-6-2, winning 11 by knockout.  Check out his complete pro ledger on boxrec: KELCIE BANKS Pro Record

   If you would like to see Kelcie Banks in action, I have these bouts available for trade on DVD. Contact me for information:

BENJI VIGIL   [tko-2]
BOBBY BREWER [w-4]
RAY GARCIA  [tko-2]
MARTIN GALVAN   [tko-1]
RAMON OCHOA     [tko-3]
ADOLFO ALDANA    [tko-4]
GABE CASTRO     [w-6]
FELIX GONZALEZ   [w-10]
OSCAR LOPEZ   [Draw-8]
FIDEL AVENDANO  [L-12] {Forum Lightweight Tournament Final)
TODD FOSTER  [L-10]

AMATEUR:
Ed Hopson #1
Ed Hopson #2
Ed Hopson #3
Lindell Walker   [rsc-2] (Final Round ONLY)
Arnoldo Mesa   (1987 Pan Am)
Arnoldo Mesa  (1987 Dual Meet)
Regilio Tuur  (1988 Olympics)
David Moreno  (1986 U.S. Olympic Festival)
John John Molina (Puerto Rico)    [rsc-by-1] (World Amateur Championships)
Robert Gonczi (Hungary)  [w-3] (1985 USA vs Hunary Dual Meet)
Jamie Pagendam (Canada)  [w-3]

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