Dingaan Thobela
Born
Dingaan Bongane Thobela

(1966-09-24) 24 September 1966
Soweto, Gauteng, South Africa
Other namesThe Rose of Soweto
Statistics
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 7+1⁄2 in (171 cm)
Reach72 in (183 cm)
StanceOrthodox
Boxing record
Total fights56
Wins40
Wins by KO26
Losses14
Draws2

Dingaan Bongane Thobela (born 24 September 1966), is a South African former professional boxer who competed between 1990 and 2006. He is a world champion in two weight classes, having held the WBO lightweight title from 1990 to 1992, the WBA lightweight in 1993, and the WBC super-middleweight title in 2000.

Professional career

After compiling an amateur record of 80–3, 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 decision to 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.[1] He again lost the title in his first defense to Dave Hilton Jr via controversial split decision.[2] The loss to Hilton was the beginning of the end for Thobela, who lost his next five fights, including a TKO loss to Eric Lucas for the WBC super middleweight title in 2001[3] as well as later champions Mikkel Kessler and Lucian Bute.

Comeback

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.

Professional boxing record

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 40–14–2 Soon Botes RTD 10 (12), 3:00 27 Oct 2006 Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
55 Loss 40–13–2 Lucian Bute TKO 4 (8), 1:22 3 Dec 2004 Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
54 Loss 40–12–2 Martin Nielsen UD 6 13 Dec 2003 Falkoner Center, Frederiksberg, Denmark
53 Loss 40–11–2 Otis Grant UD 8 22 Nov 2003 Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
52 Loss 40–10–2 Mikkel Kessler UD 12 29 Nov 2002 Falkoner Center, Frederiksberg, Denmark For vacant IBA super-middleweight title
51 Loss 40–9–2 Éric Lucas TKO 8 (12), 2:15 30 Nov 2001 Molson Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada For WBC super-middleweight title
50 Loss 40–8–2 Dave Hilton Jr. SD 12 15 Dec 2000 Molson Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Lost WBC super-middleweight title
49 Win 40–7–2 Glenn Catley KO 12 (12), 2:53 1 Sep 2000 Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa Won WBC super-middleweight title
48 Win 39–7–2 Soon Botes MD 12 19 Feb 2000 Carnival City Casino, Brakpan, South Africa Won South African super-middleweight title
47 Loss 38–7–2 Cornelius Carr MD 12 31 Oct 1999 David Lloyd Tennis Centre, Raynes Park, England, U.K. For WBF middleweight title
46 Win 38–6–2 Adrian Walter Daneff TKO 7 (12) 6 Mar 1999 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
45 Draw 37–6–2 Carlos Baldomir SD 12 28 Oct 1998 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa For vacant WBC International welterweight title
44 Win 37–6–1 Gary Murray TKO 4 (10) 8 Oct 1997 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
43 Loss 36–6–1 Willy Wise SD 10 22 Mar 1997 Wembley Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
42 Loss 36–5–1 Geoff McCreesh KO 2 (8), 2:59 5 Nov 1996 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
41 Win 36–4–1 Wayne Boudreaux KO 6 (10) 25 Jun 1996 Morula Sun Casino, Mabopane, South Africa
40 Win 35–4–1 Booker Kidd TKO 3 (10) 25 Jun 1996 Fernwood Resort, Bushkill, Pennsylvania, U.S.
39 Win 34–4–1 Mark McCreath TKO 9 (10) 25 Nov 1995 Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London, South Africa
38 Win 33–4–1 Jaime Balboa KO 8 (10) 26 Sep 1995 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, Gauteng, South Africa
37 Win 32–4–1 Santiago Alfonso Ahumada TKO 2 (10), 1:34 19 Aug 1995 Superbowl, Sun City, North-West, South Africa
36 Win 31–4–1 Kenny Vice TKO 2 (10) 6 May 1995 Village Green, Durban, South Africa
35 Win 30–4–1 Andreas Panayi TKO 2 (10) 11 Feb 1995 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa
34 Loss 29–4–1 Karl Taylor PTS 8 29 Nov 1994 Chase Leisure Centre, Cannock, England, U.K.
33 Loss 29–3–1 Orzubek Nazarov UD 12 19 Mar 1994 Carousel Casino, Hammanskraal, South Africa For WBA lightweight title
32 Loss 29–2–1 Orzubek Nazarov UD 12 30 Oct 1993 Nasrec Indoor Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa Lost WBA lightweight title
31 Win 29–1–1 Tony Lopez UD 12 26 Jun 1993 Superbowl, Sun City, North-West, South Africa Won WBA lightweight title
30 Loss 28–1–1 Tony Lopez UD 12 12 Feb 1993 ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California,, U.S. For WBA lightweight title
29 Win 28–0–1 Tony Foster PTS 8 31 Oct 1992 Earls Court Exhibition Centre, Kensington, U.K.
28 Win 27–0–1 Peter Till TKO 9 (10) 15 Aug 1992 Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa
27 Win 26–0–1 Antonio Rivera UD 12 14 Sep 1991 Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa Retained WBO lightweight title
26 Win 25–0–1 Amancio Castro UD 10 13 Jul 1991 Momentum Arena, Pretoria, South Africa
25 Win 24–0–1 Mario Martínez UD 12 2 Mar 1991 Exhibit Hall, San Jose, California, U.S. Retained WBO lightweight title
24 Win 23–0–1 Mauricio Aceves SD 12 22 Sep 1990 International Convention Center, Brownsville, Texas, U.S. Won WBO lightweight title
23 Win 22–0–1 Pascual Aranda TKO 4 (10) 23 Jul 1990 Longhorn Ballroom, Dallas, U.S.
22 Win 21–0–1 Mauricio Aceves RTD 7 (10), 3:00 27 Apr 1990 Point Cadet Plaza, Biloxi, Mississippi, U.S.
21 Win 20–0–1 Felipe Orozco TKO 10 (10) 22 Jan 1990 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
20 Win 19–0–1 Francisco Ortiz UD 10 5 Dec 1989 First National Bank Arena, Durban, South Africa
19 Win 18–0–1 Francisco Alvarez TKO 9 (10) 21 Oct 1989 San Juan, Puerto Rico
18 Win 17–0–1 Danilo Cabrera TKO 3 (10) 24 Jul 1989 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
17 Win 16–0–1 Fred Adams KO 1 (10) 15 May 1989 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
16 Win 15–0–1 Mark Fernandez TKO 6 (10) 11 Mar 1989 Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa
15 Win 14–0–1 Daniel Londas MD 10 23 Jan 1989 Portuguese Hall, Johannesburg, South Africa
14 Win 13–0–1 Brian Roche KO 8 (10) 13 Dec 1988 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
13 Win 12–0–1 Mpisekhaya Mbaduli TKO 8 (12) 1 Oct 1988 Centenary Hall, New Brighton, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Won South African super-featherweight title
12 Win 11–0–1 Ditau Molefyane UD 10 10 Jul 1988 Don Mateman Hall, Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
11 Win 10–0–1 Andy DeAbreu TKO 5 (10) 9 May 1988 Kenneth McArthur Oval, Potchefstroom, South Africa
10 Win 9–0–1 Gerald Isaacs TKO 3 (10) 7 Mar 1988 Oppenheimer Stadium, Orkney, South Africa
9 Win 8–0–1 Samuel Boikanyo TKO 4 (8) 1 Feb 1988 Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg, South Africa
8 Win 7–0–1 Elijah Cele PTS 6 15 Dec 1987 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
7 Win 6–0–1 Shorne Moorcroft TKO 5 (6) 21 Nov 1987 Springs Indoor Centre, Springs, South Africa
6 Win 5–0–1 Walter Mpungose TKO 6 (6) 11 Jul 1987 Van Riebeeck Stadium, Witbank, South Africa
5 Win 4–0–1 George Masango PTS 4 8 Mar 1987 Tamil Hall, Laudium, Pretoria, South Africa
4 Draw 3–0–1 Peter Mpikashe PTS 4 15 Dec 1986 West Ridge Park Tennis Stadium, Durban, South Africa
3 Win 3–0 David Matekane PTS 6 2 Nov 1986 Don Mateman Hall, Eldorado Park, Johannesburg, South Africa
2 Win 2–0 Christian Sithebe TKO 4 (6) 27 Aug 1986 Eldorado Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
1 Win 1–0 Quinton Ryan PTS 4 28 Jun 1986 Eldorado Park Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Catley loses world crown". BBC. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  2. ↑ "Hilton captures WBC crown". The Globe and Mail. 16 December 2000. Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  3. ↑ "Lucas Defends Middleweight Title". Associated Press. Retrieved 12 October 2022.

Further reading

  • Potgieter, Deon (2009) Rose of Soweto: The Dingaan Thobela Story Penguin, Johannesburg, South Africa, ISBN 978-0-14-302615-0
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