Golden Gloves

In May 6, 1989, South Africa’s “Golden Boy” heavyweight Johnny du Plooy lost to a mountain of a man named Francesco Damiani in Syracause, Sicilia, for the WBO heavyweight title. It was only Du Plooy second loss and while he was bowled over by former heavyweight champion Mike Weaver (L TKO 7) in 1987, he suitably avenged that loss by knocking Weaver out in the second round! However, this time things were a lot different, and with the whole of South Africa playing that the 25-year-old Du Plooy would land that trip-hammer right to annex what was then already a fractured heavyweight title, it was left to Damiani to supply the action. Slightly apprehensive from the opening bell, Du Plooy landed a good right but then, as boxing men would say, “tripped over a left hook” and with the underrated Damiani picking the punches, the hard-heating Italian knocked Du Plooy cold in the third round.

A brilliant talent with fine counter-punching skill and a incredible eye, Du Plooy was one of those fighters that could possibly have been great, but for a reluctance to train and punish himself like the likes of Pierre Coetzer, who was certainly the most dedicated big man I’ve ever seen.

As for Damiani, eventually retired with a record of 30-2, with 24 knockouts, and lost his title after being stopped by Ray “Merciless” Mercer in nine rounds.

That Du Plooy had beaten some pretty fine opposition on his way up; James Tillis, James Pritchard, Mike Weaver, David Bey, did it seem to matter and once he’d been flattened by Damiani, he lost a great deal of interest, even though there was obvious money to be made.

To quote Golden Gloves Promoter Rodney Berman, “When Johnny signed to fight Pierre Coetzer he made a remark that he was taking the fight very serious and was every wearing his tracfk-suit to the pub”. From his side, Du Plooy’s was merely going through the motion and after being stopped by Renaldo Snipes, Pierre Coetzer and Corrie Sanders he soon retired from the sport with a resume of 27-5-1, with 22 knockouts. His career had lasted almost 12 years

.                                           Will History Repeat Itself?

Born on September 27, 1964, Du Plooy, who has now become a larger than life trainer, may very well have a boxer on his hands with even more hang up’s than himself and it’s interesting to note that both men are “purportedly” working at the problem. Or as they! Like he did in his professional career, Du Plooy is quick to back up his boxer though sparing, for he too is the first to say Mwelase has to “knuckle down and train like a true gladiator” for his date with destiny. That destiny is of course reserved for IBO world welterweight champion Lovemore Ndou, who with a resume of  47-11-2 is backed by a strong believe that no man can beat him, least of all some southpaws Sowetan who has only had 14 fights, (12 knockouts). “I ate southpaws” said Ndou aloud, fully aware that his boxing trainer Harold Volbrecht is one of the best left-handers ever produced in South Africa.

Interestingly Jeff Ellis of African Ring feels that since Mwelase won’t allow him to be snapped for the cover of his sports latest newspaper, the 28-year-old boxer may be a bit of an “eccentric” of his own.

Born on in 23 September 1982, Mwelase has often had a jumbled career that saw him lift the SA welterweight title from Lucky Lewele (25-3) in 2007, despite rising from two knockdowns, knock out Juan Carlos Ceferino Villarreal (40-9) in 2:36 sec of the opening round to win the WBF welterweight title and then losing the same to Ali Nuumbenbe (20-3) when he was unable to make the weight.

In August 2009, a heavier and fatter Mwelase won the WBF light middleweight title by outpointing Attila Kovacs in 12 rounds. That was, however, at light middleweight (7-8-2009) and Mwelase has had nearly a year to think it!