There’s a picture taken recently of Brandon Thysse pounding the heavy bag in Damien Durandt’s gym.
He’s chiselled and jacked, a sure sign that he’s put in the hard work leading to his SA junior middleweight title challenge at Emperors Palace next weekend.
It’s a view confirmed by Durandt, who says that Thysse has been a constant presence in the gym, firstly because the fight against Junior Makondo was supposed to have taken place in August. More importantly, distractions of the past have been banished. He’s utterly focused on fighting, and that spells trouble for his opponents.
Thysse wasn’t in great mental shape in 2022 when he fought a rematch with Roarke Knapp. His late father had succumbed to Covid and the pain was too raw. Somehow he boxed on, losing a split decision.
His visits to the gym were infrequent and, last year, Durandt pulled his boxer out late in the fight against Shervantaigh Koopman. Personal outside the ring issues had played on his mind and although he never used this as an excuse, it put his performance into context. We all knew he was better than that.
The truth is that Thysse is one of the most rounded, skilled professionals in the game. He can box, he can punch, he can take a crack and he can impose himself, all while displaying the slick skills of a veteran pro. His trouble has been inconsistency, but when his head is clear and he’s switched on, he’s terrific to watch, and devilishly hard to beat.
“He’s looking so good and has done really well in camp,” said Durandt, adding that a new strength and conditioning expert brought in before the last fight, against Darrin Rossouw, had also produced a key difference.
Although they were disappointed that August’s fight was postponed, on account of Makondo getting injured, there was no let up in preparation. His walking around weight is around 77-78kg, significantly lower than before the Koopman fight when Thysse was neither physically nor mentally sharp.
The point is that he’s switched on for the Makondo showdown. He must be, Durandt reckoning his height, range and punching power making him a formidable opponent.
And yet . . .
Thysse should be levels above given his record and past performances, and this bout represents an ideal fight to display his skills against a canny opponent.
“I’m hoping we stop him,” says an expectant Durandt, “and I expect we will.”
A record of 16-4-1 may suggest Thysse is an unfulfilled talent, but there are mitigating reasons for his losses and at his best he is an exciting, compelling talent.
“It’s been a bumpy road, but that road is behind him,” says Durandt. “If he’s focused, he’s the complete package.”
At 30, he may well be entering his prime. The Makondo fight is thus his chance to remind the public that he deserves greater reckoning at the weight.
It’s also a chance he must take, emphatically and without doubt.
