Bongani Magasela

Bongani Magasela

Boxing trainer Gert Strydom was discharged from Flora Clinic near Roodepoort, where he was taken after he was stabbed 13 times by robbers near his home in Roodepoort on Saturday night.

Strydom, who guided Malcolm Klassen to the IBF junior lightweight belt last month with another enigmatic mentor, Benny Pailman, escaped death by the skin of his teeth.

He was discharged on Wednesday.

Strydom, still humble despite defying all odds by helping Klassen to end the reign of Cassius "The Hitman" Baloyi in Mafikeng last month, was admitted at the intensive care unit.

"I am at home. I am glad to be back," he said.

"I almost did not make it. I can't go now.

"There are so many champions to be produced," added the man who also helped Jasper Seroka defend both his South African and African Boxing Union junior lightweight titles in March.

"I was stabbed 12 times in the back and once in the liver. They also tried in vain to cut my throat. I have 15 stitches on the outside and 12 on the inside but I am fine."

Klassen, from Toekomsrus, said he cried bitterly when his wife called him to tell him about the incident.

"I was away in Kimberley. I felt bad, especially after being told that he was in the ICU.

"You might come out alive or dead there," he said.

Klassen said Strydom shocked him by going with his amateur team to the grading at Booysen on Wednesday.

"It just goes to show how much this man loves boxing," the champion said.