Boxing world mourns tragic death of Durandt
Well known boxing trainer and manager Nick Durandt, pictured, was killed in a motorcycle accident near Clarens in the Free State yesterday. He was 53.
Durandt, who was the president of the Crusaders Bike Club, reportedly collided with a vehicle on the road between Bethlehem and Clarens yesterday afternoon.
He was rushed to hospital but succumbed to his injuries with his son, Damien, by his side.
Having trained and managed more world champions than any other South African trainer and manager, Durandt has no equal in the history of South African boxing.
The son of Cliff Durandt, who played professional football for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic, he was born on December 26, 1963 in Wolverhampton, England and arrived in South Africa with his father as a youngster.
He first learnt his boxing under the guidance of former multiple South African and Empire champion Willie Toweel.
Flamboyant, colourful and controversial at times, Durandt continued to produce world champions, South African champions and numerous other divisional champions of the world bodies, and has always had the biggest stable of boxers in the country.
He produced 95 South African champions in all 17 weight divisions, 38 world champions and 27 International champions through the WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO, WBF and IBO organisations.
Yet he was always willing to learn from other trainers and worked with Americans Tommy Brooks, George Benton, Lou Duva, Alton Merkerson and Freddie Roach, having spent long periods with these trainers learning his trade.
Among the boxers Durandt spent time with in training camps were Pernell Whitaker, Roy Jones Jr, Oscar de la Hoya and Evander Holyfield.
Among the outstanding fighters he has taken to world titles are Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga, three time South African and three time world champion, Phillip Ndou, Cassius Baloyi, Silence Mabuza, Isaac Hlatshwayo, Jacob Mofokeng, Jeffrey Mathebula, Malcolm Klassen, Siphiwe Nonqayi, Hawk Makepula, Zolani Tete and Moruti Mthalane.
Durandt won many awards, including 2002 King Korn/Boxing SA Trainer of the Year, 2009 Boxing SA Trainer of the year and Boxing SA manager of the Year in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
– supersport.com
With all avenues having been exhausted, including court action, the only thing residents of Vuwani can do to force government to accede to their demands is to continue with the total shutdown of services protest action, according to spokesperson for the Pro-Makhado Demarcation Task Team Nsovo Sambo.
Residents have been demanding that the Municipal Demarcation