Golden Gloves

Johnny Du Plooy was never a southpaw. Not that this naturally talented heavyweight of the 1980’s ever minded facing fighters who boxed from the left-handed stance. “I handled them as good as I did fighting boxers who squared up from the orthodox”, said Du Plooy, a slight trace of that old bravado in his voice.

Yet in his moulding of talented, albeit sublime welterweight talent Bongani “Cyclopes” Mwelase (14-0, with 12 knockouts), who happens to be one of the better southpaw hitters we’ve ever had, the once ‘bad boy’ from Ellis Park Streets, has shown as side to him that very few have ever seen. “I really like this kid, said Du Plooy” who’s 28-year-old protege challenges IBO world welterweight champion Lovemore Ndou (47-11-2, with 31 knockouts) for his championship this weekend at Emperors Palace. Well travelled and immensely popular, Ndou won his second world title (IBO welterweight title) at Emperors Palace last year in 2009 by licking Phillip Ndou in 12 rounds and has made one title defence since then, by fighting a draw with Matthew Hatton. .

A student of Du Plooy in more than ‘one’ ways, the memory of an impetuous 22-year-old impetuous heavyweight youth is there for all to see in this young savage punching welterweight, who often breaks his training, is contemptuous of anyone who councils him and feels that he has a “God” given ability to win a world boxing crown. Moreover, since he has already captured three times; and is now aiming at a most convincing fourth, that could carry along with it the first ‘scalp’ of one of this countries most durable fighters. Did I hear you say durable? Well at 39-years-old the Limpopo-born, Australian-based (for over 10 years) Ndou is yet to be counted out of the perpendicular and this despite often taking on men much bigger and heavier.

A former IBF junior welterweight champion, the likeable Ndou – who also doubles as a lawyer, is purportedly afraid of no man and some of Ringdom’s most lauded belters have found him too much of a problem to be put to the sword.

As Phillip Ndou said after 12-hard fought rounds with his namesake, “This guy is really a terrific scrapper and you can’t find anything that you would like to say, he has a particular weakness. Because in my opinion” said Ndou, “He is a brilliant fighter with a fantastic jab”.

Johnny du Plooy, though has a vision of a southpaw ‘crunch punch’ that he says was one of all-time South Africa’s southpaws ring great; Harold Volbrecht’s! Though for obvious reasons, Du Plooy is not that keen to make it known.

“Do I look crazy” said Du Plooy? “Naturally Harold had a fantastic array of punches and not all his biggest bombs came from his southpaw stance.” Like so many other athletes and there trainers, Du Plooy, however, talks of himself and his fighters as being one and the same. “Look for me to will this fight nice and early, with one of Volbrecht’s bonafide-winners” smiled Du Plooy.

TERRY PETTIFER

WEIGH-IN TAKES PLACES AT 12-NOON at 64 THE PALACE (near the old Monzoon Lagoon).