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| SA Boxing legend: Ebrahim Momla fought a record 194 amateur fights, winning 192 of them; he subsequently went professional and fought many famous SA boxers, during a tough apartheid era. |
By Waheed Khamker
The Vaal area lost one of its colourful boxing figures and Roshnee lost one of its pioneer residents when renowned welterweight boxer Ebrahim Momla passed away last Monday (16th March) of a heart attack at the age of 78.
The 5th of 14 children, Ebrahim had an outstanding and decorated boxing career which began in 1956. He had a record 194 amateur fights, winning 192 of them! Fighting in the gyms of old Vereeniging, Evaton, Sharpeville, Bopelong and more.
Ebrahim once said: “In the 1960’s South Africa had the best black boxers ever. And to trade punches in that era, you had to be more than what you are.”
When he turned professional, he fought some famous and toughest names in the boxing world, mostly in the Vaal Triangle townships and even in Soweto.
It was apartheid time and white boxers could not fight non-white boxers. But Ebrahim was called up regularly to spar and train with white welterweight champion Willie Ludick. The government relented and allowed World Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes, a black boxer, to come out to South Africa to fight our Willie Ludick. Cokes was accompanied by Cessius Green, also a black boxer. Ebrahim spared with both of them. Plans were being made for Ebrahim to fight Green. Willie Ludick lost to Curtis Cokes on two occasions, both title fights. That was then. And Cokes, impressed with Momla, is said to have even offered him a non-title fight which sadly got cancelled due to financial constraints. Momla said that Cokes, “a real gentleman”, had even offered to take him to the United States of America to fight as a middleweight there but lack of sponsorship prevented it from materialising.
Because of his “light complexion”, in an era of apartheid, posing as a “Portuguese”, Ebrahim was able to canvass Lourenco Marques in Mozambique but met few worthy opponents; he did however meet and beat that country’s champion Anibal Angelo, famously being asked after the fight to give autographs with messages to fans in Portuguese.
The highlights of his career though were in and around our townships. He fought many boxers, names I cannot all recall, some like Joe Ngidi, Carlton Momakgotla, Henry Sidamo, Gabriel Dlamini, Mike Ramagole and many others, some of whom were SA champions in their respective categories.
Ebrahim then took part in a tournament called “Battle of the Welters”. He reached far and defeated many but unluckily lost in the final against Gordon Goba because of a severely cut eye during head clashes. I was at the ringside that one very hot summer Saturday at a vibrant Orlando Stadium in 1968. With me was a bantamweight contender Ahmed Choonara. Ebrahim and Ahmed were the only two Indian professional boxers in the Transvaal!
Ebrahim did a lot for boxing and sports as a whole. He opened a gym in Roshnee, not only for boxers but for members of the small community to keep fit. He also staged many boxing tournaments in Vaal and in Lenasia. I went with him on his behalf to apply for a Professional Boxing Promoter’s Licence. He did not live long enough to achieve so many great visions he had but his contribution to the sport of boxing in all township areas will not be forgotten especially in Gauteng’s townships. He leaves behind his wife Noorjahan Momla, Moosa Momla (eldest son), Mohsin Momla (middle son), Mohammed Momla (youngest son), 6 grand-children and thousands of endearing friends in the many townships. May Almighty grant him Jannatul Firdows, Ameen.
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| Amongst Roshnee’s favourite sons: The late Ebrahim Momla. |
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