The future of South African professional boxing looks bright, and this blissful state can be attributed to the progress by some of the emerging crop of trainers.
Ncedo Cecane, Khangelani Jack, Nkosinathi Thusi, Witbooi Lonki, Shannon Strydom, Steven Msimanga and Damien Durandt are the trainers who are doing a good job.
Cecane and Msimanga are former SA flyweight and mini flyweights champions, while Jack and Strydom did not win any title. Thusi and Lonki were good amateurs who did not don the gloves in the paid ranks.
Cecane’s camp boasts two champions, including SA mini flyweight holder Thinumzi Gqola, while Jack trains national junior flyweight champ Siseko Teyisi. Strydom is responsible for the career of SA heavyweight champ Chris Thompson and IBF Africa flyweight holder Frank Sotomela.
Lonki has five champions including SA bantamweight holder Sheradene Fortuin. Durandt, who did not box, has produced many SA and international champions, and has guided Ilunga Makabu to clinching the WBC cruiserweight belt.
These trainers’ success with aspirant boxers contradicts the constant belief that one needs to have been a boxing champ to be a good trainer.
But some of the greatest trainers in boxing history never fought professionally.
Colin Nathan never boxed but he and Vusi Mtolo – a former amateur boxer – produced many SA and world champions, including the Ring Magazine champion in 2018, a feat SA had last achieved in 1950.
Records also confirm that Emanuel Steward boxed as an amateur and won the 1963 national Golden Gloves tournament in the bantamweight division. Known as “The Godfather of Detroit boxing”, the American trained 41 world champion fighters throughout his career, most notably Thomas Hearns, Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko.
Steward – who also trained Welcome Ncita at his famous Kronk Gym in Detroit when the South African fighter held the IBF junior featherweight champion – lost his fight to cancer in 2012, at the age of 68.
Just last weekend, 34 year-old Thusi from Dundee guided five boxers to victory in Escourt. Thusi – who was once a coach for the Sanabo team – helped Nkosingophile Sibisi to retain his SA flyweight belt on points against tough-as-nails mandatory challenger Frank Sotomela.
Nhlakanipho Kunene won the WBF intercontinental mini flyweight vacant title on points against the equally competent foe, Ally Ngwando from Tanzania.
Mxolisi Zuma displayed pure artistry in a one-sided six-rounder against durable Saul Hlungwane.
Sakhile Hlatshwayo defeated Sanele Maduna on points over six rounds, while Lethukuhle Sibisi also won her four-round bout against a Tanzanian.
The tournament was organised jointly by husband and wife – promoters Hlula and Hlengiwe Dladla of Hlula and Hle-Jobe promotions.
Sowetan
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