South Africa’s budding boxing trainer Damien Durandt intends carry on the legacy left by the retired trainer and father Nick Durandt.
His flamboyant boxing trainer father, Nick announced his retirement early this year in the sport he served with loyalty for 29 years. Surely the most successful boxing trainer in boxing his has passed the baton to his son to carry on with the legacy of producing champions.
The journey for the aspiring trainer starts on Saturday when his charge Daniel “Billy the Kid” Bruwer takes on Thomas “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen for the vacant WBA Pan African light heavyweight title at the Birchwood and OR Tambo Conference Centre in Boksburg.
The 25 year-old Durandt junior says on fight night he will make his first champion. “I’m excited and slightly nervous, looking at success my father enjoy in boxing. It is also a great feeling because I have learnt from the best and I trust my ability as a trainer,” said Durandt junior.
In his reign as a trainer Nick has decorated CV, produced more champions than any South African boxing trainer with 38 world, 28 international and 97 South African champions.
The up coming trainer is expecting a tough contest between the two adversaries and is looking forward to his first assignment as a trainer. He was at the corner for first time when he was 14 as a bucket man.
“This is a big challenge and I’m up for it. For the first time in 30 years my father is going to be a spectator in a boxing tournament while I’m guiding my boxer to a regional glory,” he said. The young Durandt who was born in boxing said his father told him to carry the legacy he left behind and dedicate himself to the sport.
