By Boxing Bob Newman
Sad to report the passing of former world champion Dingaan Thobela. “The Rose Of Soweto” held two versions of the lightweight title- WBO from 1990-1991, the WBA in 1993 and incredibly, jumped up 5 divisions to annex the WBC Super Middleweight title in 2000! In a career that spanned 20 years, Thobela would face 11 world champions, going 3-7-1 in that run and 40-14-2, 26 KOs overall.
Thobela had an undisclosed illness recently and hadn’t been answering phone calls, prompting family to have police conduct a wellness check at his flat in Mayfair, outside Johannesburg, where his body was found. He leaves behind his common-law wife Sandra and two children Ntombi and Dingaan Thobela Jr. Thobela was 57. Rest In Peace champ.
RIP Champ!!
RIP Dingan
The Thobela who outpointed Mario Martinez was a supreme boxer. Was ko’d in his last 2 fights. Could have achieved more but was undisciplined. His best moments were easily 4 divisions below super-middle where he won a title at a second weight. A fight with Brian Mitchell – they were in the same divisions for short periods – and would have been one of the best local match-ups.
Join the ancestors, champ, rest in power.
RIP warrior.
Congrats on a life well lived to a terrific fighter. Rest easy, champ.
Sad to hear this. Rest easy Champ! I dont think any 2 division champion has ever skipped 5 divisions, having won no titles in between. That tells me he was a warrior who was a bad ass at any division, regardless of weight.
Sad news as the man was young. Thobela will probably be the only two weight world champion in boxing history who wins world titles in weight divisions as far away from each other as lightweight and super middleweight without winning a world title between those divisions. It’s a distinction that’s both dubious and extraordinary at the same time. In his prime he was a terrific fighter. He was robbed in his first fight against Tony Lopez when he attempted to first wrest the WBA lightweight strap and had a bit of a classic in his first encounter with the formidable Orzubek Nazarov in losing that title. RIP, Champ.
Great humble man and warrior, may he rest in peace and may God comfort his family and loved ones…
Wow. 57 is relatively young in today’s world. Great fights. Thank you champ. Rest in peace.
One of South Africa’s finest boxers, with a great following in this country. RIP Dingaan, champ.
Very sad, I remember his amazing feat of winning the title at 168 after being a champion at 135.
RIP…..