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Gare bolts stable

20051208EN Jerry Phukuje trainer and manager(L) of William Gare (R) former SA junior midleweight champion at Sowetan offices 8th December 2005. Photo by Elvis Ntombela
20051208EN Jerry Phukuje trainer and manager(L) of William Gare (R) former SA junior midleweight champion at Sowetan offices 8th December 2005. Photo by Elvis Ntombela

Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Nothing lasts forever.

The union between William Gare, the South African super middleweight champion, and trainer Jerry Phukuje, which was perceived to have been made in heaven, has ended.

Gare has joined Warren Hulley, who trains World Boxing Federation (WBF) lightweight champion Mlungisi Dlamini and Zack Mwekassa, who holds the WBF International cruiserweight belt.

Gare and Phukuje were childhood friends in Meadowlands. They were later stablemates at the gym of the late Job Seballo.

Phukuje was not successful as a fighter and he retired, while the future looked promising for Gare.

Another former professional fighter from their hood, Eugene Khanyile, opened his gym and Gare joined him.

Phukuje followed later and became Khanyile's assistant some six years ago. But the relationship did not last long and Khanyile went solo.

That is how Phukuje became Gare's chief trainer. They travelled the world extensively without any success and Gare was written off as a washed up fighter.

But Phukuje guided him to winning the SA title from Peter Mashamaite last year. Neither Gare nor Phukuje were available for comment to shed light on their separation.

As if that move is not enough to send shock waves through the boxing fraternity, Grant Fourie has bolted from the stable of Harold Volbrecht, and teamed up with Collin Nathan.

Fourie made his professional debut under Volbrecht last year and together they chalked up four wins and a draw.

Meanwhile, Zolani Marali has left World Sports Promotions (WSP) and rejoined Golden Gloves.

WSP helped him to revive his career, which had taken a dip after he lost the IBO junior featherweight belt to Thomas Mashaba in May 2004.

That was Marali's last fight under Golden Gloves.

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