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By Sabi Catz:The Dutch boxing world has
reacted with great shock to the murder of former WBU
super-middleweight and WBA intercontinental champion
'Fightin Nordin'.
The Morrocan-born Nordin
Ben-Salah was gunned down on Monday-night in the centre
of Amsterdam and died instantly. Police said that at
least two assailants were involved firing a string of
bullets from automatic firearms.
The death of
Nordin comes as a complete and total shock to his
manager, trainer and many friends and fans. His manager
Edda Ruhling, who for many years secured fights for him
thru Germany's top promoter Wilfried Sauerland, said "it
was totally incomprehensible as to why anyone would hurt
the Dutch fighter".
Ben-Salah's trainer and
close friend Michel van Halderen, fighting back tears,
reacted on national television to the growing rumours
and speculations.
"Whenever something happens to
a boxer or kick-boxer, the press immediately lay the
link with organized crime. It is rather sad that now the
press are hunting me for reactions whereas when I tried
to get publicity for upcoming title fights no one would
be interested," van Halderon.
Fighting Nordin's
recent fights were for the WBA intercontinental title
against South African Sidney Msuthu and Argentine
Francisco Mora, to whom he lost to both and later
successfully beat in the respective rematches.
Recently Fighting Nordin was in top condition
and in full training for another possible title fight.
It is still unclear whether the Dutch fighter will be
buried in his beloved hometown of Purmerend in the
Netherlands or whether his family wants to lay him to
rest in his country of birth, Morocco. He leaves behind
a three year old son. It is with great pain and sorrow
that this writer writes this last article about a fellow
countryman and dear friend.
September 22, 2004.
Thoughts and prayers from the entire staff at
SecondsOut.com are with the Nordin family at this sad
time.
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