SOUTH Africa?s celebrated trainer Nick Durandt will again take centre stage on the world boxing scene when his charge Moruti Mthalane attempts to unseat IBF-IBO flyweight champion Nonito Donaire at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, US on November 1.
The bout will form part of the boxing extravaganza featuring former three-time world champion and popular Mexican boxing buzz- saw Jorge Arce taking on Isidro Garcia in a junior-bantamweight scrap.
Julio Cesar ?The Son of a Legend? Chavez Jnr is also taking on his nemesis Matt Vanda in a junior- middleweight return match.
Being part of such a high-profile boxing environment will not be new to Durandt who has been shipping out his top fighters to participate in world fight events.
Durandt?s taste of world boxing began in 1996 when Thulani ?Sugar Boy? Malinga upset British star Nigel Benn to win the WBC world super-middleweight crown in Newcastle in England.
Durandt?s other charge and now the retired Philip Ndou was the main attraction in his WBC lightweight title challenge against Floyd Mayweather Jnr in November 2003.
Durandt also led his other fighters such as Silence Mabuza, who engaged in two memorable epic battles against IBF world bantamweight champion and Mexican Rafael Marquez in November 2005 and August 2006.
Durandt was also in the corner when Mhikiza Myekeni failed in his attempt to end Thai Pongsaklek Wonjongkam?s long WBC flyweight reign in November 2006.
The mane-haired trainer renown for his boisterous comments also manned the corner of Simpiwe Vetyeka when he challenged Japan?s Hozumi Hasegawa for the WBC bantamweight title in March last year.
When Arce ruthlessly stopped Masibulele ?Hawk? Makepula in four rounds for the WBC world junior-bantamweight title eliminator in 2006 Durandt was again in Makepula?s corner.
Commenting about his imminent trip with Mthalane to what is considered as the one of the top boxing venues in the world, Durandt said his charge would do what he has to do.
?It will not be easy because Donaire is good fighter who possesses one of the lethal left hooks in the business,? he said.
?But we have detected some mistakes from his boxing armoury which we intend to exploit.?
Being part of such big boxing extravaganza does not faze Durandt either as he now can adapt like a fish in water.
?I have been in far bigger events with lots of pressure so it will not make a difference to me.?
Mthalane, who has lost once in 23 bouts, scoring 15 stoppages, earned the right to challenge Donaire when he easily beat Australian Hussein Hussein in East London in July.
Donaire nicknamed ?Filipino Flash? exploded into the boxing scene with a first-round upset knockout victory over previously unbeaten Vic Darchinyan in July last year.
Darchinyan will be remembered as the fighter who gave the late Eastern Cape fighter Mzukisi Sikali such a merciless beating he forced him to quit in the eighth round of their IBF-IBO unification match in 2005.
Mthalane has vowed to return those titles to the country.
Donaire has lost only once in 20 bouts scoring 12 knockouts.
