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While everyone in South Africa is talking about the “DECLARATION OF WAR” tournament at Emperors Palace on November 6, comparatively few pundits have given much thought to the respective trainers who guide IBO world super middleweight champion Isaac “The Golden Boy” Chilemba (Elias Tshabalala) and Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen into what could be a career-defining bout!
While a good few years separate the two experienced mentors, they are both highly respected for their love of the game and sober way of thinking.
Elias Tshabalala: Age: 42
Once trainer Nick Durant’s assistant coach, he acquired a number of his former employer’s top fighters after the infamous “telephone bug” scandal of 1997. Brother to professional fighters, John and the late “Ginger” who was murdered by thugs when seemingly headed for fame.
Besides training established stars like Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga and Jacob Mofokeng, who were both world champions, Elias did a really sterling job preparing Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela for his never-to-be-forgotten knockout victory over Britain’s Glen Catley in 2000, when the ageing South African won the WBC super middleweight title with only 12-seconds left on the stopwatch.
In 2001 Tshabalala featured in a popular television series titled “The Summit” in which he opposed Nick Durandt as a trainer and locater of fistic talent.
The likeable Tshabalala, who seldom finds fault with anyone, has recently bounced back with an impressive list of fighters, and of late has fashioned two world champions, Isaac “The Golden Boy” Chilemba and Gideon Buthelezi who own the IBO world super middleweight and mini flyweight crowns respectively.
Clearly Tshabalala’s gymnasium is one of the most vibrant in Johannesburg and among the five-star talent who have also joined him are WBA International bantamweight champion Tshifhiwa Munyai, IBO world bantamweight champion Simphiwe Vetyeka and blossoming lightweight find Bongani Dlamini!
GREATEST CAREER TRIUMPH AS A TRAINER: Getting an ill-disciplined, overweight and portly Dingaan Thobela down in poundage in order to whip Catley!
Harold Volbrecht: Age:53
A national welterweight champion for twelve years (1976-1989), Volbrecht defended his crown a record 19 times and defeated some of the best competitors this country has mustered in the 140lb (63:63) ranks. Among those he beat were Gregory Clark, Joseph Lala, Fanie van Staaden, Johnny Sham, David “Baby Lux” Kambule, Peter Mgojo and Gert Craemer. He also unsuccessfully challenged for WBA welterweight honours but was beaten by Pipino Cuevas (1980) and Mark Breland (1987).
Like several ex-fighters, the “Hammer” as he’s still known, took to training and has become one of the finest mentors in the history of SA boxing. He initially succeeded Carlos Jacamo when Brian Mitchell fired him and took the inimitable “Road Warrior” to the IBF world junior lightweight title in September 1991.
Considered by Mitchell as the finest trainer this country has ever had, Volbrecht’s list of world beaters has sizeably grown and besides taking Corrie Sanders to two world heavyweight titles, he also steered the likes of Philip Holiday, Sebastiaan Rothmann, Mzukisi Sikali, Jan Bergman and Lovemore Ndou to global fame.
In 2009, Volbrecht took his favourite (by his own admission) charge Tommy “Tommy Gun” Oosthuizen to two World Youth titles, namely the IBO light heavyweight and IBO super middleweight championships.
GREATEST TRIUMPH AS A TRAINER: Corrie Sanders’ massacre of heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany. The Ukranian, however, recovered enough from that mauling to regain his status- along with his older brother- as one of two world heavyweight champions.
October 30, 2010 at 11:39 am, Jono B said:
The “Hammer” always hits the hardest.
He has been in the game fare longer than any South African trainer and will show why he’s fighter will lift the belt on the 6th on Nov.
October 30, 2010 at 12:06 pm, Emilio said:
Must agree
Tommy is still learning from the Hammer and will come on the 6th Nov with all Guns Blazing.
Tommy Please do not drop that right hand punch Isaac with it.
There is nothing like hard work, Toomy go get your belt.
October 30, 2010 at 9:01 pm, Giovani said:
There’s no comparison between the 2 trainers. Elias Thabalala a trainer of champions? Yeah thats quite funny. First of all, he doesn’t have the personality nor character to be a great trainer. He’s more of an introvert. He’s not a kind of guy that can stamp his authority. I have my doubts about Harold but he’s far more experienced. Trainers wont win this fight for their boxers. Tommy’s good but his inexperience at a high level will show from about round 8. He’s never fought somebody like Isaac. A fast combination puncher who applies pressure. I have seen Isaac fight. And I have seen tommy fight. Tommy like to box at his pace and just in range where he can land his so called bombs. He does not fight on the inside, he likes his comfort zone where his opponent is within punching range. But Isaac should be on him like a flie on shite. And thats the key to beating tommy.Isaac must show him no respect. Jarred the steroid man lovett showed tommy too much respect. He fought the wrong fight. Isaac just stay close to tommy at all times.Dont give him a chance to extend his arms. Your head must be on his chest.If tommy wants to win, then he should spar against come forward pressure fighters. He must give isaac angles, dont let isaac get close, plenty of jabs, straight punches and combinations. After every combination, move to the side. Never backwards in a straight line with your head in the air
November 01, 2010 at 9:23 am, Southpaw said:
“Gun”, you have what it takes to take that Title with you, Isaac likes to drop his hands, and i’m shure if you stay focused on you goal its going to be easy, to the comment on top there, “Gun” can adapt to any style of fighting, so im shure that “Gun” will “read” the fight quick. I know the past couple of weeks that “Gun” started focusing himself for the fight, You Go “GUN” Bring that title back to the East Rand where it belongs
November 01, 2010 at 12:32 pm, Boxman said:
You really scrapping the barrel here if all you can write about is Volbrecht vs Tshabalala? In any event its a no contest. Its like comparing a poodle to a rotweiler.
November 01, 2010 at 12:35 pm, Britt (",) said:
Giovanni, Your comments are well respected around here’ but I hate to differ from your comment. Thomas “Tomm-Gun” Oosthuizen, or as some labelled him “Gun” has too much talent for Isaac, now you say he’ (Tommy) can’t fight from the inside, well ‘ at the box and dine 2010-04-27 Saul La Fiera Roman’ was dropped from the inside, in fact Tommy only fought most of that fight from the inside short hooks and rapid uppercuts. Now let’s go to your comment made about him being inexperienced, who has Isaac fought, creditable?
Thomas is the type of fighter that adjusts to the fight conditions, he makes you fight he’s fight whether you like it or not, if you’re a real boxing wizard , you’ll know it’s a complete miss match, you can’t compare a second string fighter to a “Sunday Puncher “ like Tommy.
God Bless GGP.
November 01, 2010 at 9:15 pm, "Uppercut" said:
Saw Tommy on saturday ,looked very skinny.I am a bit worried that he weighing to lite.He tell me he feel great and I take his word for it.Isaac look very white and thats because of all the weight he had to pull.Tommy will hurt Isaac and get rid of him for once and for all .
November 02, 2010 at 7:39 am, Terry Pettifer said:
PRE-FIGHT MEDICAL: AT 12-NOON AT 64 THE PALACE, SITE OF OLD MONZOON LAGOON>
November 02, 2010 at 8:19 am, Stephen Castle said:
Uppercut what are you talking about….Isaac looking white cause of all the weight he had to pull? The boy has been on the weight for close to a month. Stop talking crap!
November 02, 2010 at 10:34 am, Britt said:
is the pre-fight medical today?
November 02, 2010 at 4:19 pm, Giovani said:
Steven Castle, I dont know what your intensions are. You talk about how many tickets the MMA sell and then you talk about how many tickets boxing cant sell. Whats your aim with trav statement? You used to be a boxer all your life but now you put make up onto the cage fighters faces before they enter the cage. And then you say you’re a professional boxing trainer? Doesn’t make sense. I know cage fighters also train and do grabling,stand up and all other hops but at the end of the day, its a street fight with a referee. You are associating yourself with it.If they pay you good money then good luck. I said earlier,cage fighting might take over from boxing only in south africa.but never in countries like america,australia and certain european an countries like germany and england.
November 02, 2010 at 4:39 pm, Southpaw said:
Britt, Well said there, I also know that “Gun” is the type of Boxer that can Adjust to any type of fight brought to the table, Look at all of “Gun’s” fights, You hit, I hit! You stand, I stand! You bring it on the Inside, I’ll eat you on the outside. Like the famous “Gun” sais, COME GET YOUR BISCUITS CHILEMBE, HE’S GONA FEED YOU SOME SOUTHPAWS
November 02, 2010 at 8:16 pm, "Uppercut" said:
Stephen no wonder you did not make it in the pro ranks.I tell you now there is no way that Isaac was in the limit a month ago.Maybe if he weigh in on your gym scale witch you set for yourself not to weigh to much.But then again you never pulled weight ,so you don’t know what to look for in a person.I hope your a better trainer than a talker because at this moment you talk a lot of sh@t
November 02, 2010 at 9:59 pm, Giovani said:
Please guys lets not insult each other. Just now we’ll all look like nick du randt and he’s one person i dont want to be like.
November 03, 2010 at 7:56 am, Britt said:
Southpaw like your comment
November 04, 2010 at 7:41 am, LEFT HOOK said:
STEPHEN –IS TOPBOX FOR AMATEURS BOXERS OR MMA BOXERS