QUESTION: Durah, firstly, congratulation on your victories involving your fighters Ali Funeka and Mfundo Gwayana recently. Did you expect both fighters to win the way they did?
ANSWER: Thanks, my bro. To be honest, I sat down with Ali before his fight against Zahir Raheem and I told him that if he does not crouch low ? as he often does ? and (if he) throws straight punches, he would knock out Raheem. As for Gwayana, we knew that Samora Msophi was underestimating him and that was his undoing because Gwayana is a murderous puncher with a lion?s heart. My condolences to Msophi?s family though because as much as we were prepared for the fight we certainly did not want it to end tragically.
Q: Now you are a fully- fledged trainer. Tell me, why did you quit boxing so soon?
A: It was when my brother Vuyani was a world champion and was able to assist me financially. After my brutal bout against Zolile Mbityi for the SA flyweight title in 1996, Vuyani suggested that I concentrate on my studies and he undertook to provide for me.
Q: He sure did provide for you because I remember seeing you driving flashy cars and owning a luxury flat in Southernwood …
A: ( laughing ) T hat was the phase of growing up, my bro …
Q: On a serious note Durah, people also blame you for the financial struggle Vuyani is currently going through, saying you let him spoil you when you could have stopped him and advised him to invest his money wisely.
A: That is certainly a wrong perception because Vuyani and I grew up the hard way, living in a two-room house, and when he got his break he felt he should not leave his younger brother behind. I don?t think there was anything wrong with that.
Q: When did your career as a boxing trainer start?
A: It started in 2000 when Nkqubela Gwazela was a rising star. I approached Sotho Ndukwana (the businessman) to help me open my own boxing gymnasium. Luckily there was another gentleman by the name of Des Tailor who leased out his building to a kick-boxing club and I got involved in the running of the club. Des later told me that I could use the club to train boxers as well. During that time it was myself, Welsh Mnguni and Keith Summerton, who both had just left Mzi Mnguni?s club. We had exciting youngsters but, unfortunately, a major misunderstanding eventually led us to split.
I took Gwazela to an SA flyweight title challenge against Ncedo Cecane. T he performance he displayed when losing that fight convinced detractors that he was for real and, most importantly, that I was also for real.
Q: You were also roped in by Andile Sidinile to help train Lunga ?Mad Dog? Ntontela in his IBO world junior-bantamweight title clash against Edison Torres in 2002.
A: Yes, and I count Ntontela?s victory in that fight as one of my achievements because I personally trained him for that fight although Cyril ?Bones? Adams helped me to look after the technical aspects.
Q: How did it come about that you joined Mzi Mnguni?s Eyethu Boxing Club ?
A: I started helping as a physical trainer just before Simpiwe Vetyeka challenged and stunned Khulile Makheba for the SA bantamweight title in 2005. I do not want to claim Vetyeka?s victory because there were many of us who contributed to it.
Q: Y ou have moved into a chief trainer?s position in one of the world?s famous boxing clubs. Are you ready for this hot seat?
A: (laughing) I know you often criticise me when our fighters lose but it?s okay, boxing is a game of opinions. All I can tell you is that now I am a man. My time as a trainer has arrived big time regardless of who says what, and the results are there for everyone to see. To understand, you have to look at the champions we have in our stable.
Q: No one can dispute what you guys have achieved and I take my hat off to you for that. But, has it been easy, Durah, to train these fighters, including Zolile Mbityi who you fought and who actually beat you? Does he obey your instructions in the corner?
A: My bro, you will be surprised by Mbityi?s attitude. As you rightly said, he beat me, but he affords me the most respect, so much so that it is humbling. We have a brotherhood relationship and he understands that when it is time to train seriously for a fight I do not have to push him. I even monitor his diet and he respects me when I say don?t eat that.
Q: After Ali?s victory over Raheem you guys will move into big-time boxing against the best in the world, and your training methods will be put to the test with the world watching. Are you ready?
A: More than ready. I?ll tell you this though, the fighter I would most love to see Ali fighting is Manny Pacquiao. I can tell you that Ali will knock out Pacquiao.
Q: What? What are you smoking, Durah? We are talking about the best pound-for-pound boxer in the universe here, who has four major world titles in four different divisions, and you say he would be knocked out by Ali?
A: Cross my heart and cut my throat, I am telling you. Pacquiao?s style is tailor-made for Ali. T he whole world would be shocked if they ever fight … when Ali knocks him out cold.
