THREE times British wrestling champion Dave Morgan promises to have his opponent carried out of the ring in a coffin when he meets India’s Gama Singh at Turffontein’s Wembley Indoor Arena on Friday night.
Described by promoters as a wrestling explosion, this is the first South African event to attract five international wrestlers. Four of the 10 on the bill are former world champions.
Known to fans as The Bomber, Morgan projects himself as a simple person in and out of the ring. Unlike most international wrestlers, who bristle with wrestle-mania gimmicks and dramatics, he enters the battlefield armed with only red cloak, scants and boots.
Smiling over a cappuchino in a Braamfontein restaurant, Morgan admits he is out to avenge his last defeat to Singh, in Cape Town almost nine years ago. “I believe I was robbed back then, this time around I am going to demolish the old man” he grins.
Not a stranger to this country, Morgan has had various challenges here since 1978, including a series of three fights with Singh in 1986.
The first, in Cape Town, was “an easy win”, the second, in Johannesburg, declared a draw. At the last one in Durban, Morgan lost in front of the predominantly Indian crowds by what he calls a biased decision by the Indian referee. “Although Singh had me pinned down and everybody in the arena could see that my other arm was up — a sign that I was continuing with the fight — the Indian referee gave him the fight. “
He says this time around they would be at a more neutral venue and he knows exactly how Singh works.
At over 40, Singh is the oldest wrestler on the bill — the nine other fighters are in their thirties.
Morgan says it is embarrassing to fight “an old man, who starts blowing out his lungs after only three minutes in the ring”.
For someone who believes in “‘skipping warm ups” before each fight, he jokes that he will go to the ring “straight after coming from the toilet”, as he anticipates an easy win.
Born of an English mother and a German father, Morgan – – who took up his mother’s surname and has been living in Germany since he was eighteen — says all he remembers of growing up in Manchester was wishing to be a wrestler.
“At about eight I started fighting in the gym around the corner, and later in amateur contests.”
“Back in those days I was impressed by Paul Lloyd — a former British champion — and I used to rush back home after school to watch him fight on television. I decided later that if I could break my nose or my arm, I might as well get paid for it, and joined the professionals,” Morgan laughs.
At 18 he was demolished in his first fight by former South African champion Jan Wilkins at London’s Wembley
He was bedridden by a back injury in 1974. He says, for a vagabond like him, getting hospitalised in Hamburg was quite fortunate as his German relatives were close enough to visit and care for him.
“The gypsy life that I lead — living in various hotels — makes it impossible to make a home and develop roots. Wrestling is my food and my sleep, I don’t have time for anything else,” the lone warrior reflects
But, his face lightens with excitement for tonight’s wrestling explosion. International fighters, include USA’s ‘Warlord’ and ‘Giant Warrior’; Nigeria’s ‘Black Bullit’ and India’s Gama Singh.
He has seen more than one person die in the ring. “It is a rough sport but at the end of the day, this is still a sport for everyone to enjoy.”