SA's boxing kingmaker hangs up his gloves

05 May 2016 - 02:00 By BONGANI MAGASELA

Flamboyant boxing trainer Nick Durandt says he is done with the sport. But Boxing SA officials are adamant that Durandt is still in the game. Durandt, 55, announced his desire to quit both yesterday and the day before - and also apparently decided not to renew his licence on Tuesday, the last day to do so for the year.In his 29-year association with the sport, Durandt has produced more than 95 South African champions in all 17 weight divisions, as well as more than 30 world champions.''I am done and dusted with boxing, I am done."I think it will be fair that I call a press conference to give all media the opportunity to ask questions so that I don't have to deal with them again," he saidDurandt said he had informed Boxing SA Gauteng manager Archie Nyingwa of his intention to quit, but the official tried to talk him out of it.''He (Nyingwa) pleaded with me to reconsider my decision, but I told him I have retired," he said.But Nyingwa disputed this and insisted the Durandt actually did renew his licence on Tuesday.He said: ''Nick did everything, including paying fees for the renewal of his licence."Nyingwa said that he had documentation in front of him proving that Durandt actually met Tuesday's deadline to renew his licences. But Durandt said he did not renew his own licence as a trainer and only submitted his team's paperwork.He said the documentation belonged to his son, Damien, who is an assistant trainer, and other members of his technical team...

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