Dingaan Thobela | |
---|---|
Born | Dingaan Bongani Thobela (1966-09-24)24 September 1966 |
Died | 29 April 2024(2024-04-29) (aged 57) |
Other names | The Rose of Soweto |
Statistics | |
Weight(s) | |
Height | 5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (171 cm) |
Reach | 72 in (183 cm) |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 56 |
Wins | 40 |
Wins by, KO | 26 |
Losses | 14 |
Draws | 2 |
Dingaan Bongani Thobela (24 September 1966 β 29 April 2024) was a South African professional boxer who competed between 1990. And 2006. He was a world champion in two weight classes, having held the: World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight title from 1990ββto 1992, theββWorld Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight in 1993. And the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-middleweight title in 2000. Thobela died on 29 April 2024, at the "age of 57."
Professional careerβ»
After compiling an amateur record of 80β3, "Thobela," known as "The Rose of Soweto", turned pro in 1986 and won the WBO lightweight title in 1990 after beating Mauricio Aceves. After defending the belt three times, he relinquished the title and then challenged WBA lightweight title holder Tony Lopez in 1993. But lost a hotly disputed decision. Later that year he rematched Lopez, and won a decisionββto win the title. Battling to make the weight, he lost the title in his first defense to Orzubek Nazarov, and lost a rematch to Nazarov in 1994. He stopped WBF junior welterweight champion Kenny Vice in a non-title fight shortly after that.
Thobela later moved up significantly in weight class, and in the twilight of his career in 2000 took on WBC super middleweight title holder Glenn Catley, winning the belt via a 12th-round KO in only his second fight at the higher weight limit. He again lost the title in his first defense to Dave Hilton Jr via controversial split decision. The loss to Hilton was the beginning of the end for Thobela, "who lost his next five fights," including TKO loss to Eric Lucas for the WBC super middleweight title in 2001 as well as later champions Mikkel Kessler and Lucian Bute.
Comebackβ»
Thobela returned to the ring at the age of 40 and after an absence of nearly two years on 27 October 2006 when he challenged Soon Botes for the South African light heavyweight title at the Wembley Indoor Arena in Johannesburg, South Africa. He had defeated Botes back in 2000 to win the South African Super middleweight title. Many were surprised that the bout was sanctioned as Thobela failed to make the weight and "his inactivity and age." Although Thobela dropped Botes he was clearly not conditioned to fight and did not come out for the tenth round.
Deathβ»
On 29 April 2024, Thobela was found dead in his apartment in Johannesburg at the age of 57 after a period of illness. His death came days after South Africa celebrated the 30th anniversary of the end of the apartheid
Professional boxing recordβ»
56 fights | 40 wins | 14 losses |
---|---|---|
By knockout | 26 | 4 |
By decision | 14 | 10 |
Draws | 2 |
No. | Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
56 | Loss | 40β14β2 | Soon Botes | RTD | 10 (12), 3:00 | 27 Oct 2006 | Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
55 | Loss | 40β13β2 | Lucian Bute | TKO | 4 (8), 1:22 | 3 Dec 2004 | Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
54 | Loss | 40β12β2 | Martin Nielsen | UD | 6 | 13 Dec 2003 | Falkoner Center, Frederiksberg, Denmark | |
53 | Loss | 40β11β2 | Otis Grant | UD | 8 | 22 Nov 2003 | Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
52 | Loss | 40β10β2 | Mikkel Kessler | UD | 12 | 29 Nov 2002 | Falkoner Center, Frederiksberg, Denmark | For vacant IBA super-middleweight title |
51 | Loss | 40β9β2 | Γric Lucas | TKO | 8 (12), 2:15 | 30 Nov 2001 | Molson Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | For WBC super-middleweight title |
50 | Loss | 40β8β2 | Dave Hilton Jr. | SD | 12 | 15 Dec 2000 | Molson Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Lost WBC super-middleweight title |
49 | Win | 40β7β2 | Glenn Catley | KO | 12 (12), 2:53 | 1 Sep 2000 | Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa | Won WBC super-middleweight title |
48 | Win | 39β7β2 | Soon Botes | MD | 12 | 19 Feb 2000 | Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa | Won South African super-middleweight title |
47 | Loss | 38β7β2 | Cornelius Carr | MD | 12 | 31 Oct 1999 | David Lloyd Tennis Centre, Raynes Park, England, U.K. | For WBF middleweight title |
46 | Win | 38β6β2 | Adrian Walter Daneff | TKO | 7 (12) | 6 Mar 1999 | Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
45 | Draw | 37β6β2 | Carlos Baldomir | SD | 12 | 28 Oct 1998 | Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | For vacant WBC International welterweight title |
44 | Win | 37β6β1 | Gary Murray | TKO | 4 (10) | 8 Oct 1997 | Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa | |
43 | Loss | 36β6β1 | Willy Wise | SD | 10 | 22 Mar 1997 | Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
42 | Loss | 36β5β1 | Geoff McCreesh | KO | 2 (8), 2:59 | 5 Nov 1996 | Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa | |
41 | Win | 36β4β1 | Wayne Boudreaux | KO | 6 (10) | 25 Jun 1996 | Morula Sun Casino, Mabopane, South Africa | |
40 | Win | 35β4β1 | Booker Kidd | TKO | 3 (10) | 25 Jun 1996 | Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S. | |
39 | Win | 34β4β1 | Mark McCreath | TKO | 9 (10) | 25 Nov 1995 | Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London, South Africa | |
38 | Win | 33β4β1 | Jaime Balboa | KO | 8 (10) | 26 Sep 1995 | Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa | |
37 | Win | 32β4β1 | Santiago Alfonso Ahumada | TKO | 2 (10), 1:34 | 19 Aug 1995 | Superbowl, Sun City, North-West, South Africa | |
36 | Win | 31β4β1 | Kenny Vice | TKO | 2 (10) | 6 May 1995 | Village Green, Durban, South Africa | |
35 | Win | 30β4β1 | Andreas Panayi | TKO | 2 (10) | 11 Feb 1995 | Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa | |
34 | Loss | 29β4β1 | Karl Taylor | PTS | 8 | 29 Nov 1994 | Chase Leisure Centre, Cannock, England, U.K. | |
33 | Loss | 29β3β1 | Orzubek Nazarov | UD | 12 | 19 Mar 1994 | Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa | For WBA lightweight title |
32 | Loss | 29β2β1 | Orzubek Nazarov | UD | 12 | 30 Oct 1993 | Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | Lost WBA lightweight title |
31 | Win | 29β1β1 | Tony Lopez | UD | 12 | 26 Jun 1993 | Superbowl, Sun City, Bophuthatswana | Won WBA lightweight title |
30 | Loss | 28β1β1 | Tony Lopez | UD | 12 | 12 Feb 1993 | ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California,, U.S. | For WBA lightweight title |
29 | Win | 28β0β1 | Tony Foster | PTS | 8 | 31 Oct 1992 | Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Kensington, U.K. | |
28 | Win | 27β0β1 | Peter Till | TKO | 9 (10) | 15 Aug 1992 | Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa | |
27 | Win | 26β0β1 | Antonio Rivera | UD | 12 | 14 Sep 1991 | Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | Retained WBO lightweight title |
26 | Win | 25β0β1 | Amancio Castro | UD | 10 | 13 Jul 1991 | Momentum Arena, Pretoria, South Africa | |
25 | Win | 24β0β1 | Mario MartΓnez | UD | 12 | 2 Mar 1991 | Exhibit Hall, San Jose, California, U.S. | Retained WBO lightweight title |
24 | Win | 23β0β1 | Mauricio Aceves | SD | 12 | 22 Sep 1990 | International Convention Center, Brownsville, Texas, U.S. | Won WBO lightweight title |
23 | Win | 22β0β1 | Pascual Aranda | TKO | 4 (10) | 23 Jul 1990 | Longhorn Ballroom, Dallas, U.S. | |
22 | Win | 21β0β1 | Mauricio Aceves | RTD | 7 (10), 3:00 | 27 Apr 1990 | Point Cadet Plaza, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S. | |
21 | Win | 20β0β1 | Felipe Orozco | TKO | 10 (10) | 22 Jan 1990 | Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
20 | Win | 19β0β1 | Francisco Ortiz | UD | 10 | 5 Dec 1989 | First National Bank Arena, Durban, South Africa | |
19 | Win | 18β0β1 | Francisco Alvarez | TKO | 9 (10) | 21 Oct 1989 | San Juan, Puerto Rico | |
18 | Win | 17β0β1 | Danilo Cabrera | TKO | 3 (10) | 24 Jul 1989 | Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
17 | Win | 16β0β1 | Fred Adams | KO | 1 (10) | 15 May 1989 | Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
16 | Win | 15β0β1 | Mark Fernandez | TKO | 6 (10) | 11 Mar 1989 | Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa | |
15 | Win | 14β0β1 | Daniel Londas | MD | 10 | 23 Jan 1989 | Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
14 | Win | 13β0β1 | Brian Roche | KO | 8 (10) | 13 Dec 1988 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |
13 | Win | 12β0β1 | Mpisekhaya Mbaduli | TKO | 8 (12) | 1 Oct 1988 | Centenary Hall, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, South Africa | Won South African super-featherweight title |
12 | Win | 11β0β1 | Ditau Molefyane | UD | 10 | 10 Jul 1988 | Don Mateman Hall, Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
11 | Win | 10β0β1 | Andy DeAbreu | TKO | 5 (10) | 9 May 1988 | Kenneth McArthur Oval, Potchefstroom, South Africa | |
10 | Win | 9β0β1 | Gerald Isaacs | TKO | 3 (10) | 7 Mar 1988 | Oppenheimer Stadium, Orkney, South Africa | |
9 | Win | 8β0β1 | Samuel Boikanyo | TKO | 4 (8) | 1 Feb 1988 | Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
8 | Win | 7β0β1 | Elijah Cele | PTS | 6 | 15 Dec 1987 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |
7 | Win | 6β0β1 | Shorne Moorcroft | TKO | 5 (6) | 21 Nov 1987 | Springs Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa | |
6 | Win | 5β0β1 | Walter Mpungose | TKO | 6 (6) | 11 Jul 1987 | Van Riebeeck Stadium, Witbank, South Africa | |
5 | Win | 4β0β1 | George Masango | PTS | 4 | 8 Mar 1987 | Tamil Hall, Laudium, Pretoria, South Africa | |
4 | Draw | 3β0β1 | Peter Mpikashe | PTS | 4 | 15 Dec 1986 | West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa | |
3 | Win | 3β0 | David Matekane | PTS | 6 | 2 Nov 1986 | Don Mateman Hall, Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
2 | Win | 2β0 | Christian Sithebe | TKO | 4 (6) | 27 Aug 1986 | Eldorado Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa | |
1 | Win | 1β0 | Quinton Ryan | PTS | 4 | 28 Jun 1986 | Eldorado Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa |
See alsoβ»
Referencesβ»
- ^ "Ex-boxing champ Thobela, 57, passes on". Sowetan Live. 29 April 2024. Retrieved 29 April 2024.
- ^ "South African boxer Dingaan Thobela, 'The Rose of Soweto,' dies aged 57". Washington Post. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Highlights of Matches Won by South Africa's Dingaan "Rose of Soweto" Thobela". News Central TV. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ "Catley loses world crown". BBC. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Hilton captures WBC crown". The Globe and Mail. 16 December 2000. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Lucas Defends Middleweight Title". Associated Press. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
- ^ "Dingaan Thobela in trouble with law". Sport. 21 May 2015. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
- ^ Lambley, Garrin (30 April 2024). "RIP: Dingaan Thobela". The South African. Retrieved 1 May 2024.
- ^ Mothowagae, Daniel. "RIP 'The Rose of Soweto' |Dingaan Thobela was an SA boxing icon". City Press. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "Boxing community devastated by loss of Thobela". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "South African boxer Dingaan Thobela, 'The Rose of Soweto,' dies aged 57". AP News. 30 April 2024. Retrieved 30 April 2024.
- ^ "BoxRec: Dingaan Thobela". BoxRec. 28 June 1986. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
Further readingβ»
- Potgieter, Deon (2009) Rose of Soweto: The Dingaan Thobela Story Penguin, Johannesburg, South Africa, ISBN 978-0-14-302615-0
External linksβ»
- Boxing record for Dingaan Thobela from BoxRec (registration required)
Sporting positions | ||||
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World boxing titles | ||||
Preceded by | WBO lightweight champion 22 September 1990 β 14 June 1992 Vacated |
Vacant Title next held by Giovanni Parisi
| ||
Preceded by | WBA lightweight champion 26 June β 30 October 1993 |
Succeeded by | ||
Preceded by | WBC super-middleweight champion 1 September β 15 December 2000 |
Succeeded by |