The story of The Hammer
Volbrecht is proud of his gym, where he still trains to this day.
Bartlett resident Harold ‘The Hammer’ Volbrecht agreed to have a sit-down with the City Times to share his story on his boxing career.
“I was born in Bedfordview, where my grandfather had a plot/farm,” he began.
“When they sold the farm we moved to Benoni. Then we moved to Johannesburg, this is where I started boxing. I was just six years old.
“My coach at the time was famous boxer Hartie van Heerden. He was a southpaw and because he was friends with my father, he became one of my trainers.”
Throughout his entire career, Volbrecht racked up over 400 amateur and 57 professional wins boxing southpaw.
“I write with my right hand and I preferred the southpaw stance, but I can box with both hands,” he said.
After moving from Johannesburg to Springs, he began schooling at Pembroke Elementary School.
“In 1969 I entered the Eastern Transvaal Championships. I had four fights and won all of them. I then took part in the Transvaal Championships, before taking part in the SA champs. I won my first SA amateur title at 12 years old.”
This is when Volbrecht knew he wanted boxing to become his career and that becoming a professional was the next goal.
“My father was happy with me becoming a professional but also believed I have to do a trade,” he explained.
“His belief was that if I didn’t make it in boxing I would need something to fall back on. So I qualified as a boilermaker and fitter by trade. I didn’t complete my matric, I dropped out after three months to qualify and it was the best decision I ever made.”
After dropping out of matric, this professional boxer worked for Apex in Benoni and Boksburg.
“I went to Apex, from factory to factory, and all of them looked at me like ‘you’re a kid’ what are you doing here,” he explained.
“Eventually I met a gentleman who I asked for help to become an apprentice. He then asked me if I was a boxer because he recognised me. He gave me a job based on that. So I left my parents’ house and got a flat in Ampthill Avenue.”
One moment this boxer will never forget is when he won the disputed title even though there were still titles for black and white boxers separately in South Africa.
“Early in my career when apartheid was still intact, the SA black champ was Morris “Yankee” Mohloai and I was the white champ in our division,” he explained.
On 29 April 1978 Volbrecht knocked out Mohloai in the second round to claim the vacant South African Supreme welterweight title. Mixed fights between black and white South Africans at all levels of competition were only permitted from from October 1976.
“It was a 12-round fight and I was only 21 at the time. As I got out of the ring, a man walked up to me and congratulated me while also explaining that he wants to sponsor me. It was the one and only Ronnie Bass; he sponsored me for five years. Every year-end function, I would get a new car from him and I was allowed to keep the old one.”
Many other memories stick out for this fighter, such as fighting at the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino based in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
“One morning I was jogging on the boardwalk and Donald Trump was standing there. He knew we jogged every morning. He asked if he could join us and I didn’t want someone to drag us behind, which I thought would happen. But I agreed and he kept up with us all the way. He also took us around to show us other attractions. He is quite a nice guy.”
Letters from and to Nelson Mandela
“Mandela kept saying I am his favourite fighter, he was like my pen pal because he was in prison while he was writing to me.
“They all respected Jani Mashloi, so when I beat him it was a big thing. I was going to go visit Mandela in Cape Town but then he was released and became the president.
“If you’re a top-rated sportsman that represents South Africa, then once a year you would be invited to receive an award from the president. When I was called up, Mandela hugged me and whispered in my ear that I am his favourite boxer.”
Volbrecht has so many memories he is fond of, such as meeting Bruce Willis and John Travolta upon his travels as a boxer.
When he realised he wouldn’t be able to box anymore, he chose to train others. Over the years he has imparted his knowledge upon some of the greats such as Brian Mitchell, Corrie Sanders and Philip Holiday.
“Way back I was told it’s a conflict of interest for me to train and fight at the same time. I had one more fight left and had already signed the contract, so it was agreed upon that it would be my last fight and then I would retire. I always wanted to retire at 30 years old,” he explained.
“I fought plenty overseas and took fighters abroad as well. I became one of the youngest trainers in South Africa to have a fighter that became the world champ.”
Volbrecht is proud of his gym, where he still trains to this day.
“I have been training guys even back when I myself was still boxing. The first gym I opened was in Benoni, New Modder, in 1990. I then moved the gym to Johannesburg before officially moving the gym to Boksburg, where we have now been for the past three years.
“I am training eight to nine professionals and a couple of amateurs, as well as personal training on the occasion,” he said.
“I have always loved what I have done, what I did and what I am still doing. I have come to feel I am a very lucky person when it comes to the life I have lived and am still living.
“I encourage everyone out there to fight for what they want because anything is possible.”
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