IT IS is true, Phillip Ndou's trainer was fired six hours before his fight with Lovemore Ndou.

IT IS is true, Phillip Ndou's trainer was fired six hours before his fight with Lovemore Ndou.

Gauteng trainer Micky Castellan forwarded the text message sent to him by co-trainer Welcome Ncita on Saturday.

The SMS read: "My friend I don't need you today."

Castellan said Ncita was responding to his enquiry about what time they should meet on Saturday.

His SMS, sent to Ndou and his manager Butityi Konki, reads: "Please let me know what time I should be there this afternoon for the fight preparations and where are we meeting? What must I bring, thanks Micky."

"Konki told me to speak to Welcome whose response was that SMS," said Castellan, a former professional fighter.

"Translate into English, Afrikaans, Zulu and Xhosa and tell me what it means."

Ncita was not available yesterday to confirm or deny the claim.

His phone was off.

Ndou is aware of the SMSes but still maintained that Castellan was not fired.

"As far as I know he is part of the team unless he fired himself," he said.

Castellan told Sowetan yesterday that Ncita's message got to him six hours before Ndou's IBO welterweight title fight with Lovemore Ndou, which he lost on points at Emperors Palace on Saturday night.

Thembeni Tsele (trainer-cum-promoter) and Chairman Tofi (cut man), both from East London, were seen alongside Ncita in Ndou's corner.

Castellan said Ndou's judgment is clouded by money, but he bears no grudges against him.

He said that his contract with Ndou is valid for two years.