POLOKWANE – Born in Pakistan, he currently calls the city home. He discovered his passion for boxing at the age of 10 and turned to professional boxing in 2010, making his way up the South Africa’s middleweight boxing ranks.
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He began his professional boxing career with the help of Phathutshedzo Dongola of Champ Boxing Promotion. Now, after a three-year break from boxing, he is back, this time in the super middleweight division, with his first fight set for 27 April in Vhembe. In 2013, this avid boxer brought home an Olympic gold medal and BONUS seized the opportunity to get to know him a bit better.
What inspired you to be a boxer?
My dad, Salman Hamid, has always supported me in whatever I wanted to achieve and he introduced me to the sport in 2010. When I fought my first fight, the announcer introduced me as Muhammad Ali. Looking up to Muhammad Ali is where I get my techniques from.
What kind of title do you normally participate in?
In boxing normally our promoters match us according to our weight, regardless of what race you belong to. I grew up in a rainbow nation and sports has no colour. It does not matter whether you’re black or white, the colour if your hearts are the same. As for me, I’m ready to fight any race as a sportsman.
Who is your role model in boxing?
Muhammad Ali Clay. He had a really beautiful character. My fight name is MAJ which stands for ‘Muhammad Ali Junior’. I always look at his fight styles and try to imitate him; I would like to one day follow in his footsteps and become as great as him.
What message do you have for young boxers?
South Africa has produced many world champions, looking at my stable mates, Philip The time bomb Ndou and Cassius Baloyi, so I believe South Africa has a lot of talent, we just need the right facilities and the correct structure. We have a new boxing gym in Polokwane, Anyone is welcome to join us.
What does it take to be a boxer?
A very strong heart. As Mike Tyson said: “It’s not how hard you can punch, it’s about how hard you can take the punch”. A lot of determination and discipline is necessary, boxing is the survival of the fittest. The main objective of the sport is to hit and not get hit; your commitment level has to be on point.
Who is your mentor?
My first trainer, Phathutshedzo Champ Dongola. He is a big inspiration to me as he is the one who taught me the meaning of boxing; the person who changed a small boy that weighed 116 kg to one of the top ranked boxers in the country.
What are your ambitions as boxer?
I would like to be a world champion one day as well as make the international rankings by the end of the year.
I want to make my mark in the sport and compete against the big guns in Africa such as Isaac Chilemba.
How often do you train?
My training starts at 06:00 every day and I jog between 12 to 20 km daily. I also do a fitness class for an hour followed by two hours of boxing training from Monday to Friday. I always think about my opponent training to win the fight and this motivates me to train every day.
Do you study your opponents before you meet in the ring?
No, I just train hard and I’m willing to fight anyone as well as go the extra mile. The first time I get to know my opponents is during the weigh-in the evening before the fight.
Limpopo is known to have produced many champions, what is your action plan to be among them?
The competition is tough and you have to be at the top of your game.
You have to be fit and keep your body fresh by eating correctly.
I believe it’s about how much you want to be there; if you believe it you can achieve it.
