Pinoy boxer’s manager accuses foe’s trainer of flashing gun before fight

MANILA, Philippines – Trash-talking among fighters and trainers is a common staple of boxing, but one Filipino manager feels that a line was crossed when a gun was introduced at a pre-fight rules meeting. 

Ryan Gabriel, the manager of Filipino boxer Renz Rosia, has accused Moruti Mthalane’s trainer Nick Durandt of pulling out a gun after the weigh-in of the Pinoy pugilist’s bout against the hometown favorite for the IBO flyweight championship in Durban, South Africa on Saturday, December 12. 

In a letter that was sent to IBO president Ed Levine, to which Rappler was furnished a copy, Gabriel claims that Durandt threatened him with a gun during the rules meeting when he tried to claim the prize purse as stipulated in the fight contract. 

“The most shocking thing occurred. In front of the judges, Mr. Durandt flashed his gun at me and told me that if I don’t show up at the fight, he told me that I would know what will happen, implying a threat. My boxer saw this, and lost his focus, and we all basically feared for our lives,” Gabriel wrote.  

Gabriel says that ringside judges Matteo Montello and Giulio Piras witnessed the incident. 

According to Gabriel, Rosia was supposed to receive the amount of $8,000 in cash after the official weigh-in as per the bout’s agreement. 

“During the rules meeting after the weigh-in, I requested for the purse of my boxer as indicated in the contract. Mr. Nick Durandt, trainer of Mthalane, presented the purse but insisted in paying us after the fight. I disagreed, because it is clearly stated in the contract that we will receive our purse after the weigh-in,” he said. 

Gabriel, who also promotes local boxing cards in the Philippines and handles fighters such as Bernabe Concepcion and Renren Tesorio, stressed that he would not tolerate Durandt’s violent act towards him. 

“I hope there will be proper disciplinary action regarding this matter and that all boxers will feel safe no matter where they travel,” he expressed.  

Mthalane went on to defeat Rosia via ninth-round stoppage to keep the IBO flyweight belt around his waist. 

Gabriel questioned the sports commission’s decision to subject Rosia to a late-notice HIV test, which was not indicated in the match’s agreement and had not been relayed to their camp before flying to South Africa.  

“My boxer Rosia was insisted on having his blood drawn for an AIDS test. We do not oppose to this, but I believe we should have been informed in advanced and I would have conducted the test in Manila. This insistence by the boxing commission weakened my boxer,” he stated.  

Gabriel pointed out that he already accepted the outcome of the championship clash, but he has the right to raise his own concerns.

“I accept defeat in this fight,” Gabriel said. “I am heartbroken about these occurrences. Boxing is a beautiful sport, and no life should be threatened by it.”  

Levine, Durandt dispute claims 

Through Levine’s response letter to Gabriel that was also sent to Rappler, Durandt denied the Filipino manager’s claims by asserting that he opted not to give Rosia’s money as it was unsafe to carry that large an amount of money in the country. 

“The entire purse in cash $8,000 USD was brought to and shown to you at the Rules Meeting immediately after the weigh-in. Mr. Durandt stated that he indicated to you that it might not be safe to keep that amount of cash in your possession and he offered to keep it safe for you until after the fight,” Levine wrote. 

Pursuant to Levine, Durant clarified that the licensed firearm was intended for safety measures and was never meant to inflict threat at either Gabriel or Rosia.

“When you asked him ‘What if someone wants to take the money from you?’ he responded by showing you his licensed firearm and stating to you that ‘nobody will take this money from me.’ According to Mr. Durandt, as verified by our Fight Commissioner (Len Hunt), the weapon was never displayed in any threatening way but only to demonstrate his ability to keep your money safe for you,” he stated. 

Levine also confided that the money was safely delivered to Gabriel following the rules meeting. 

Levine disclosed that Rosia was not present during the incident, contrary to Gabriel’s story.

“Upon your insistence that the money be paid at that time, it was delivered to you and you signed a receipt for it.  According to Mr. Durandt and Mr. Hunt, your fighter was not present during this Rules Meeting,” he said. 

Levine defended Durandt’s reputation in South Africa boxing by expressing that the boxing coach has exercised ethical conducts all throughout his career. 

“I have known Mr. Durandt to be very protective of fighters and the payment of their purses even when they are not his fighter,” he added.

The IBO president considers the incident to be a mere misunderstanding, prompting him to close the case that was brought up by Gabriel.

“We consider this matter closed and nothing more than a misunderstanding. We believe that all involved had the best intentions to make sure the fighter was paid and able to return home with his purse,” Levine ended. 

Gabriel confirmed Durant’s statement in another letter to Levine, but he believes that brandishing a firearm was not appropriate at that time.

“Yes, those stated by Mr. Durandt is true. However, he forgot to mention a few things, and the judges can tell you what happened. Whether or not he felt it was threatening or not, he still flashed it and it’s unnecessary,” Gabriel wrote. – Rappler.com