BYLINE: Matshelane Mamabolo
The Eskimos would have bought the ice. And Don King would have considered going into partnership.
Yesterday lunchtime at the Golden Gloves Promotions head offices and Nic Durandt is talking up Cassius Baloyi's chances of dethroning Mzonke Fana as world IBF junior lightweight champion.
'Mzonke's going to be knocked out,' says Baloyi's flamboyant trainer matter-of-factly.
It is the drivel he spews afterwards, however, that confirms Durandt's position as local boxing's king of trash talk. And, many will surely add, the man the sport desperately needs if it is to save itself from the slow death it is dying.
That boxing is as popular as it is in the United States of America is partly because it has people as outspoken as King and the likes of Flloyd Mayweather, who attract crowds by merely talking up fights.
Durandt does that locally. And yesterday he was in his element as he predicted the long-awaited showdown between The Rose of Khayelitsha and The Hitman at the University Sports Centre in Mmabatho.
'Mzonke Fana can't break an egg with his fists,' says the man.
'His only chance is to win on points because there's no way he's going to drop Cassius. And the only points he will get are for his attire, and even there he's going to be outclassed as well.'
Durandt, resplendent in his trademark gold rings and necklaces, reminiscent of BA from the eighties hit television series The A-Team, then launched a scathing attack on Fana's experience: 'When he fought (Malcolm) Klassen, Fana said you can't buy experience in a shop. Now the foot is on the other side and he's going to learn the truth of his statement.'
Durandt then threw about statistics, saying his fighter is going into his 24th world title bout, whereas the champion has been in a mere four.
'Who has Fana been in the ring with? The one guy he has defended this title against, Alvarez, had to be hauled out of retirement. He ended up on his backside against (Marco-Antonio) Barrera. This is only his fourth world title fight.'
Then he lauded his fighter: 'Cassius has fought the best. Locally he has been in the ring with the best the country has produced. And he has been amateur champion seven times. What record does Fana have.'
The attack was then directed to fana's trainer, Zola Koti.
'If he is a good trainer, why did he ask me to come help him for Fana's fights against Barrera and Klassen? And after that explosive speech he made at the awards I am going to make sure he hands me that trainer of the year award on Saturday. Fana will give the boxer of the year award to Cassius and they will give us the IBF belt. The fight won't get to eight rounds.'
Any thoughts he was done talking were quickly dispelled when he dropped the clincher: 'After Saturday, Fana will join my gym so I can help resurrect his career.'
Durandt was in similar trash-talking mode before Phillip Ndou and later Baloyi were to fight Isaac Hlatshwayo some years ago. Both his fighters were on the losing end against the fighter he has since got into his camp. Whatever the outcome, Durandt has added extra spice to an already appealing fight.
