In close to three decades in the ring, Nick Durandt produced almost 40 world champs, writes Elijah Moholola.
While his gym was sponsored by a sneakers’ company, top trainer and manager Nick Durandt’s motto - inspired by Winston Churchill and inscribed on all his fighters’ apparel - was “we promise you blood, sweat and tears”.
On Friday afternoon, the South African boxing community shed copious amounts of collective tears as news of Durandt’s unexpected passing started filtering through.
Durandt died in a motorbike accident near Clarens in the Free State at the age of 53, barely a year after he had gone on what one could term “fed-up” retirement from boxing following a myriad issues that beset the sport, which has found itself against the ropes in recent years.
Born in England - coincidentally on Boxing Day in 1963 - Durandt moved to South Africa at a young age.
His contribution to the sport is unparalleled and unequalled. He was simply in a ring of his own. In almost three decades in boxing, he produced almost 40 world champions, including the IBF class of the 21st century such as Cassius “The Hitman” Baloyi, Isaac “Angel” Hlatshwayo, Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane, Malcolm “The Stone” Klassen and Simphiwe “Golden Master” Nongqayi.
Locally, Durandt’s dominion was without a doubt. He churned out 98 South African champions. He was a colossal figure in the sport, underscored by the lifetime achievement award handed to him by Boxing SA in January.
Not only did Durandt ignite boxing in the ring, he was also instrumental in getting the sport lit outside the ring, with his witty comments hyping up fights. His great quotes and sound bites enlivened press conferences and interviews.
At one press conference, Filipino fighter Eden Sonsona threatened to dethrone Silence “African Spice” Mabuza ahead of their contest, which took place at Emperors Palace in 2008. “I am here to take the belt,” said the visiting Sonsona. But without waiting his turn behind the mic, Durandt quickly interrupted: “The only belt you are leaving the country with is the one holding up your pants!”
Sitting close enough to his corner when his charge, Vincent Vuma took on Alvin Mahonisi in what was an eagerly anticipated battle in June 2008, it was easy to hear the exchange of words in between the rounds. By the end of the 11th round, Vuma appeared to be well ahead on points. As the bell summoned the fighters to the centre of the ring for the final round, one of Mahonisi’s fans - realising that the fighter’s only chance of victory was a knockdown or even a knockout - yelled: “Come on Alvin, it’s now or never.” Durandt swiftly turned, looking at the fan, and said: “We will go with the second one - never!”
He was that quick. He was that quirky. The man with multiple gold chains and rings was bestowed with the rare gift of verbal counter-punching.
Being one to talk boxing, sleep boxing and eat boxing, Durandt had very few conversations about his personal life. On a rare occasion that his personal life somehow crept into any chat, he would said: “My brother, I am married to the sport.”
On a flight back from East London a few years ago, one of his two sons, Damian, revealed how much of a champion father Durandt was. One would have expected Damian to talk boxing all the way back to Jozi, but for more than half of the trip all little Durandt talked about was “my father this” and “my father that”.
Durandt himself was fathered by footballer Cliff Durandt, who played as winger for Wolverhampton Wanderers in the then English First Division.
A legendary trainer and manager has left these shores. While the boxing community remains crestfallen, perhaps this is a reminder of the words uttered by Winston Churchill himself when he said: “Death and sorrow will be the companions of our journey.”