" THE ROSE OF SOWETO"

THE BOXER THAT MADE SOUTH AFRICA PROUD.

 PHOTO CREDIT: Tertius Pickard

 

  BY: REFENTSE MAKGAMATHA

Dingaan Bongani “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela was born at Baragwanath hospital on 24 September 1966. Dingaan Thobela has proved himself as one of South Africa's most talentedboxers, although perhaps not the most hardworking fighter. We can still give him some credit for putting South African boxing on the map during his time.

 When the Sanyo Boxing academy opened in Soweto when Thobela was a teenager, he swapped the soccer pitch for the boxing ring. He met boxing trainer Norman Hlabane and soon joined him in his gym in New Canada. He would remain with Hlabane for most of his boxing career. Hlabane trained Thobela through  amateur fights . Thobela’s role model was Salavador Sanchez, the Mexican WBC featherweight champion who died in a car accident in 1982. He and Hlabane spent hours watching videos of the fallen champion.

Thobela became increasingly marketable and began to fight outside of South Africa. In 1990, three of his five fights were in the United States and all three ended in victories, two by knockout over Pascual Aranda and Mauricio Aceves who he both disposed of in the fifth round.. He went on to defend the title three times. In 1993, he challenged WBA lightweight title holder Tony Lopez and lost. They had a rematch later that year which Thobela won; however, he lost the title in his first defence when he faced Orzubek Nazarov. He lost again in a rematch with Nazarov in 1994. He later moved up to middle weight.

 In 2000 he took on WBC Super Middleweight Title holder Glenn Catley and won the title. It was only his second fight at the higher weight limit. Unfortunately he failed to defend the title and lost to Dave Hilton Jr in a split decision.  He went on to lose his next five fights.

The former champion and as called by many the rose of Soweto, he is now a director and owner of a funeral parlour. However,  he has been  in the papers for controversial issues but the champ is still keeping his composure. Drama or not, he will remain the rose of Soweto