The Advertiser sat with respected boxing trainer and iconic boxer Harold Volbrecht at his house in Boksburg for part two of his exclusive one on one interview with the Advertiser. Part one took place at the Hammer Gym where he’s trained and trains a multiple of pugilists.
With such a decorated career inside and outside of the squared circle, the Advertiser sought to learn more about one of the greats’ story who, out of a total of 54 professional fights, won 47, lost five and drew two with a total of 14 knockouts.
The Advertiser asked:
Toughest opponent?
Pangaman Sakapani because he brought a lot out of me. We stood in the middle of the ring toe-to-toe, beating the hell out of each other for 12 rounds.
Who would you say is the one man most responsible for your success?
I would say Gert ‘Hottie’ van Heerden. I had good amateur trainers but my amateur trainers weren’t really good boxers. The reason I say Hottie is because he was a professional boxer – I even stayed at his house. He taught me the double right hooks: make sure your right foot is on the outside when you fight an orthodox guy because that way you can beat him to the jab – and all those things. Things my amateur trainers couldn’t tell me. Hottie taught me how to fight an orthodox guy, how to be a counter-puncher, etc. He was quite a good fighter and a famous guy in the late ’50s and ’60s.
Any prominent international people you’ve worked with?
I’ve trained with famous trainers like Angelo Dundee.
*Dundee has trained the likes of Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard.
Best moments as a trainer?
When Corrie Sanders defeated Wladimir Klitschko in Hanover, Germany, in March, 2003. He gave Wladimir a ‘goodnight’ punch to win the fight. Rodney Berman was in the ring, it was a crazy night. Nobody had given Corrie a chance – so yes – that is prestigious for me as a trainer.
Favourite local boxers?
Peter ‘Terror’ Mathebula, Pierre Fourie and Corrie Sanders.
Favourite international boxers?
Sugar Ray Robinson, Sugar Ray Leonard.
Where do you rate Mike Tyson among the greats?
I rate him highly. A lot of guys actually underestimated him back then. The only thing I didn’t like about him was his lifestyle, which reminds me of Tommy Oosthuizen.
Did you get a chance to meet Ali (Muhammad)?
Yes, only once.
Who would you say are the top three boxers you’ve trained?
Brian Mitchell, Corrie Sanders and Sebastiaan Rothmann.
How did you meet Thomas Oosthuizen?
His father brought him to the gym about 12 years ago. His father was fighting in my time and he also became SA champion. So he brought Tommy to the gym and I saw talent that I hadn’t seen in a lot of other children.
Out of all the countries you’ve been to, in which would you say you had the best experiences?
I’ve been to so many nice places, one of the nicest is Italy. But where I picked up a lot of experience is in America and Mexico. Panama was also interesting.
Family
What did your parents do for a living?
My father used to work in construction. He also did a bit of amateur boxing, never professional boxing. My mother was a nurse and a very good singer. She sang with famous singers too. She could’ve become famous but she was too stingy to pay for a manager to get her to sing at places like Emperors Palace. Those days they used to go sing in pubs a lot. I remember when I was fighting amateurs, I wasn’t supposed to fight when she’s not there because when a lady in the crowd shouts bad things about me, she would take her hair out. When I was fighting as an amateur along with Gerrie Coetzee, his mother was as bad as my mother. When a lady shouts something like, “Knock him out, knock him out,” my mother would go and knock her out – and Gerrie’s mother was the same.
Where are your parents from?
We are originally from Germany. They came in the late ’40s when my grandfather bought a farm in Benoni. Then my parents moved to Bedfordview where I was born, in Van Buuren Street.
How many siblings do you have?
I have one brother and two sisters and they’re still all alive. My mother is also still alive, 91 years old. I’ve once told my sister that we better be careful, she just might outlive us. I had another brother but he died in an accident. My father died when he was 64, Harold Volbrecht Snr.
How many children do you have?
My first wife died; we had three daughters. I married again and had one more daughter.
How did you meet Michelle?
One day this company asked me if I could give them a fitness class. When I arrived, she was there as an aerobics instructor and we started chatting. She likes sport, she’s also into sport, you have to have the same interests. I met her in Boksburg but she’s originally from England.
Also Read: Celebrating a boxing great
Also Read: Boxing given green light
