When Juan Alberts first stepped into Ryno Liebenberg’s gym, he wasn’t exactly the picture of a future champion. “He was a fat boy,” Liebenberg says with a grin. “But he had the moves.”
Fast forward just over a year, and Alberts is now one of South Africa’s most exciting heavyweight prospects, fresh off a first-round knockout of Kareb Shitana that sent shockwaves through the local boxing scene.
Alberts’ journey has been nothing short of extraordinary. Since turning professional in August last year, he’s fought relentlessly, trained with elite sparring partners, and transformed his body and mindset under Liebenberg’s tough-love mentorship. “He is doing everything he possibly can do to improve,” says the veteran trainer. “His weight is where I want it, around 110kg. He must just tighten up.”
That discipline is paying off. Alberts has been sparring with some of the best in the business, including Kevin Lerena and Keaton Gomes. “You can’t get better,” Liebenberg says. “He’s showing nice composure and throwing good combinations for someone who’s only been boxing professionally for just over a year.”
But the rapid pace of Alberts’ rise comes with its own challenges. “He’s been busy, which has its ups and downs,” Liebenberg explains. “The problem fighting so much is you can’t focus on power work or speed work because you’re invariably in fight camp. But he’s getting his name out there, and he’s at the beginning of his career, so it’s not a big deal. We learn as we go.”
And learning is something Alberts does exceptionally well. Liebenberg describes him as a sponge, absorbing every lesson, every drill, every demand. “JJ is remarkable . . . anything and everything I give him to do, he does. I go hard on him,” he says. “I shout, ‘You wanna be champion?’ He says yes. I shout, ‘You wanna win the belt?’ He says yes. I tell him to figure it out, no stories.”
That hunger and resilience have earned Alberts the respect of his peers and the confidence of his coach. “He keeps on stepping up,” Liebenberg says. “He’s only been fighting a year or so, and he’s on a level with SA champions. He can hold his own.”
Liebenberg is so confident in Alberts’ abilities that he’s ready to put him in the ring with almost anyone. “There isn’t a single South African heavyweight I wouldn’t put in with Juan, with the exception of Lerena. All of them – Gomes, Chris Thompson, Sean Potgieter . . . we’d fight them tomorrow.”
Next on Alberts’ path is Belgian fighter Michael Pirotton (10-1), a significant step up in competition. “If he KOs this guy, he’ll be in the world top 100,” Liebenberg says. It’s a milestone that could catapult Alberts onto the international stage and open doors to even bigger fights.
The bond between Alberts and Liebenberg is built on mutual trust and sacrifice. “I give up a lot of family time to do this, I expect the same from my boxers,” says the former SA light heavyweight champion, who was always among the fittest. “He listens and trusts me. It gets easier.”
That trust began when promoter Rodney Berman first tipped Liebenberg off about Alberts. “I searched around, finally found him. He wasn’t fit, but he had the moves,” Liebenberg recalls. Since then, Alberts has proven that he’s not just talented, he’s committed.
“I like a guy who’s willing to put it all on the line,” Liebenberg says. And Alberts is doing just that, stepping into the ring time and again, learning, growing, and knocking down every obstacle in his path.
From an unfit hopeful to a rising contender, Alberts is proving that grit, guidance, and belief can forge champions. “Sky’s the limit,” Liebenberg says. And with each fight, Alberts is punching closer to it.
