Mickey Schultz - the man who admitted to killing mining magnate Brett Kebble - believes he has found his redemption in the boxing ring.
And he is determined to achieve recognition as a champion - and not just as the man who shot Kebble.
In an interview, the softly-spoken father-of-four stressed that he had become a very different man from the person who pulled the trigger in Kebble's alleged "assisted suicide" four years ago.
According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Kebble was integrally involved in his own "death-by-hitman" in his luxury car in September 2005. And Schultz was the man chosen to shoot him.
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While he could not discuss the Kebble killing, for which he was granted immunity in exchange for his evidence about how and by whom it was orchestrated, Schultz says his life has "changed 180 degrees from where it was before the Kebble thing happened".
"I'm a family man now. I haven't touched a drink in years... I feel like I have a purpose. I have a real life now."
Schultz attributes his turnaround to his internationally renowned boxing trainer, Nick du Randt, whom he credits with getting him back into the sport that he retired from 11 years ago, "when I discovered nightclubs and drinking". "If it wasn't for Nick, I wouldn't be here today," he says.
Du Randt, who maintains he is "very proud to be associated with Mickey", interjects:
"Everything that Mickey has gone through has given him a whole new vision... he's seen that there's a lot more to life than nightclubs and bulls***."
| 'My wife went quiet... but she stood by me' |
As a trainer who has produced a staggering 87 South African champions and 32 world champions, Du Randt insists he would never have taken on Schultz's training if "I didn't think he was a winner".
"I don't train rubbishes... I train champions," he said.
"Mickey is a decent human being, and I will stand by this man anywhere, any time because I know who Michael Schultz really is."
Under Du Randt, Schultz, 34, has spent the past year training an average of five hours a day, six days a week.
He follows a strict high-protein diet and has lost nearly 20kg over the past year.
The dedication has paid off: Schultz remains undefeated.
He is scheduled to fight for an as-yet undisclosed title on November 20 in the Wembley Arena in Johannesburg - where he last month knocked out Samuel Mathebula in the third round of a super-middleweight fight.
It was a victory that was met with screams of encouragement from hundreds of Schultz's supporters, including his wife, Leoni, sister, Cathy, and teenage daughter Demi.
Schultz describes his sister as his rock.
He reveals that telling her and his wife how and why he had received immunity for his role in the Kebble killing was "one of the hardest things I have ever had to do".
"My wife went quiet... but she stood by me," he said.
Asked how he feels about the hundreds of fans who support him, Schultz said:
"As bad as my name is supposed to be, I have a hell of a lot of friends... and it means a lot."
Schultz says victory is the only option in his upcoming title fight.
"This is what I want... this is my goal. He (my opponent) is going to have to kill me to stop me from taking this title."
- This article was originally published on page 1 of Daily News on November 09, 2009
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