To hear Ryno Liebenberg tell it, he’s got gold on his hands.
But don’t expect novice heavyweight Juan “JJ” Alberts to look like Sugar Ray Leonard or Mike Tyson on his debut when he boxes Mpendulo Ranapo at Emperors Palace on Friday evening.
Boxing seldom works like that, but Liebenberg, champion boxer turned trainer, believes that the West Rand bruiser is for real. Not only does he have the dimensions of a true heavyweight – 1,95m and around 130kg – he’s freakishly athletic and can take a shot.
The point Liebenberg makes is that the 23-year-old is still raw, but the cornerstones of future success are clearly evident. Friday will thus be the first step in a long journey that hopefully culminates in something special.
A week ago Alberts sparred with experienced Chris Thompson and Akani Phuzi. Despite his novice status, he more than held his own.
Several other signs have also enthused Liebenberg. When Alberts rocked up at his home gym several months ago, he took one look at his 143kg frame and, one West Rander to another, told him, “You’re fat.”
Alberts promptly pulled off a sub-one hour 10km run as if it was nothing. Liebenberg, no mean runner himself, was impressed.
“The oke’s never been in a gym and he’s benching 150kg and squatting 180kg. He can sprint with the fastest middleweights.”
Better still is Alberts’ attitude to training. He’s all in and never stops. Nothing is too much and even Liebenberg, who doesn’t suffer fools, has been impressed.
“He’s flippin’ unbelievable in training. He’s boertjie tough.”
It’s a good distinction because all of South Africa’s elite heavyweights were of Afrikaans stock, among them Kallie Knoetze, Pierre Coetzer, Corrie Sanders, Gerrie Coetzee and Fransie Botha.
Without dieting, Alberts has dropped 13kg in recent months, all on account of the sweatshop Liebenberg runs from his home in Ruimsig. The big man trains twice a day, never complaining, always willing to put in the hard graft.
Interestingly, he is a natural southpaw, but was taught to box orthodox. “We’re slowly switching him around to southpaw,” explained Liebenberg, clearly wary not to add confusion to the mix.
Alberts hasn’t faced the sort of sparring where big heavyweights deliver thunderous punches – there are few to be found in South Africa – but Liebenberg says he rolls with the punches no matter who he spars with.
“He takes a shot like a machine. When he gets hit, I tell him not to let them catch him. But he says ‘it’s nothing’, so I remind him that there will be bigger punchers down the line.”
Liebenberg himself says he misses boxing every day of his life, but he’s clearly enthused by the promise of his protégé, not least because they share similar origins, having grown up on the tough streets of Krugersdorp.
Liebenberg first heard of him when promoter Rodney Berman mentioned that he had made an impression at the sparring for professional licences. He thought little more of it until Alberts’ name popped up in the local newspaper.
He made contact, only to discover that Alberts was aligned to the WBC Altitude gym in downtown Johannesburg. They had taken care of Alberts, but Liebenberg was able to convince them that he could add the polish he desperately required after just six fights in three years as an amateur.
Liebenberg agreed to train him. Part of the deal included Alberts quitting his side hustle as a bouncer with its associated risks and late nights not conducive to a boxing career.
Liebenberg says the past month alone has seen dramatic improvement in his young student. “I can see the potential and willingness to work. He just wants to learn. He’s still raw and has a long way to go, but I see someone incredibly special.”
