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BETTER DAYS: Osborne 'Big Daddy' Machimana says he left Nick Durandt's BoxerCise gym after acting on bad advice. Photo: Bafana Mahlangu

BIGGEST PURSE: Corrie Sanders

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Machimana, who defended his heavyweight title seven times, declared yesterday that he was bankrupt.

"Life is tough, my brother," he said in an emotional interview with Sowetan.

He revealed that his biggest purse was R180,000 from Golden Gloves when he stopped Corrie "The Sniper" Sanders in two rounds towards the end of Sanders' illustrious career on February 2 2008.

Machimana, the somewhat flabby 34-year-old pugilist from Tzaneen, Limpopo, is begging boxing trainers and promoters for a fight to keep the wolf from the door.

"I desperately need a fight because I'm struggling and it's not funny," Machimana said. "I don't know which trainer to join because I have been to many gyms already without success."

At his age, he believes he still possesses enough firepower to compete in fisticuffs.

He last fought competitively on February 5 last year when he was shockingly stopped by a novice of five fights, David Price, in round three in a Commonwealth title eliminator at the Leisure Centre, Essex, in the UK. Machimana was accompanied by veteran trainer Kosie Wiese.

Machimana was supposed to have made a mandatory defence of the South African title but after some deliberations with Boxing SA, both parties agreed that he should vacate it and travel rather than miss the opportunity to earn some pounds.

Wiseman "Angisabilutho" Dlomo beat Anton "Rolling Thunder" Nel for the vacant title. Dlomo is still the champion.

Machimana came back from the UK and idled until he got a job as a bouncer at a nightclub in Midrand.

"There was robbery two weeks ago and we were all fired," he said.

Machimana says the last stable he had been under was that of Anthony van Niekerk and Basil Ray in Kibler Park, Johannesburg.

Van Niekerk, the former ABU and SA middleweight champion, was the trainer, while retired heavyweight Ray was the manager.

"Nothing happened there except promises," said Machimana who had been with Durandt before leaving him for the duo in February.

"I left Nick because of wrong advice. I'm starving now. Nick had done a lot for me including giving me work as a personal trainer at his BoxerCise Gym in Norwood where I earned decent money.

"But I'm not asking for handouts.

"I am pleading for fights so that I can have something to eat."

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Comments

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Wed May 22 18:31:53 SAST 2013 ::

Oct 17, 2012

kgoro

Its so sad to read this story about this favourite athlete of mine"Big Daddy".This is the first man that welcomed me in the sports of Boxing where we met in the Carltonville mines during a boxing tournament after noticing my undying love of this combat sport as a fan.I know that you are not the only one my brother with financial constraints as a pugilist.There are plenty of them that i can mentioned until I close my shop at 17h00.Also known as "Maximus",I wish you could reclaim your throne in Boxing my brother.I never tasted your punch but sitting far away from the boxing ring,i could always feel the power and strength of your punches my brother.S.A lacks promoters,Imagine what the situation would be if Gauteng had 10 more active promoters.I know of boxers that had only 1 fight in three years as professionals.What i like about them is that they are still soldiering on to the gym.Will S.A boxing eventually regain its rightfull spot of once being the best and most supported sport in Mzantsi?.Lets wait and see
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Oct 17, 2012

WarrenG

He still can make some cash but he needs to get fit. Cos he's a fat boxer he cannot go the distance if he needed to. He must go cap in hand and apologize to Nick. Then when he makes some $$$ must be more wize
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Oct 17, 2012

ChampRef

Open a boxing club boy and start training young boys, maybe ka lucky, oka thola funding somewhere. Or kopa mmuso ogo thuse o etse something. You are an experienced boxer, use that. GOOD LUCK.
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Oct 17, 2012

sh!tFaceSamsung

did u spend rest of ur earnings with ladies : or u r like those people who live to impress others: any way do u hav a house : cos i met several people like u : who drive a car worth over a million but no house :
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Oct 17, 2012

TjoVtjo

Come on Nick, give the guy another chance.
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Oct 17, 2012

LLCool

Osborne "Big Daddy" Machimana, to me the name and surname sound to be not SAcan.
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Oct 17, 2012

Mother-More

LOL
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Oct 17, 2012

Zezinho

U nga vileli nwana madala, swi ta lungha! Something will come up, just keep your head up
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Oct 17, 2012

Papage

Swallow your pride and go back to Nick and apologise.
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Oct 17, 2012

VENDALIOUS

go back to nick, u can still be a champ
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