WeeklySA_AdminSUPER MIDDLEWEIGHT: Thobela looks at historic ring moments as he relishes Spring month
By Pule Mokhine
While South Africa has ushered in September as its heritage month, for Dingaan “ The Rose of Soweto” Thobela, this period marks an important milestone for him as well as his successful boxing career in a very special way.
The 54-year-old retired fighter was born on September 24 1966. He made a huge impact in the professional ring by winning the World Boxing Council (WBC) super-middleweight crown on September 1 at Carnival City, Brakpan in 2000.
Thobela accomplished this feat by stopping Englishman Glen Catley in the 12th round, thus becoming the first-ever local pugilist to win the WBC belt of this sanctioning body before his home fans in Mzansi. Thobela also became the toast of the local boxing fraternity as he was to also become the first African boxer to lift the coveted WBC diadem.
The Rose’s historic victory against a stubborn Catley gave him the accolades of becoming the first prized fighter to win the coveted WBC diadem in SA. Prior to that, Thulani “ Sugarboy” Malinga and Ghanaian Azumah Nelson had been the only African pugilists to capture WBC crowns overseas. But the Rose undoubtedly blossomed to outshine them by making a mark at home with his conquest, As if the exhilarating tale of September is insufficient for the Rose, he continued to make a mark as a pugilist on this particular great month during his boxing run. He won his first- ever global crown – which was for the World Boxing Organization (WBO) lightweight title – in September 22 in 1990 . On that glorious night, he outpointed American Mauricio Aceves to snatch the belt in Brownsville, USA.
September 14 the following year (1991) saw Thobela put his WBO belt on the line successfully against Mexican Antonio Rivera, becoming victorious via a unanimous points decision at Standard Bank Arena, Johannesburg Thobela, who is now boxing promoter in addition to running a thriving funeral business called The Rose Funeral in Johannesburg, is ecstatic about his feat during what he simply refers to as “ my lucky month”
“This month being my birthday month, I have a great deal of respect for September as it has become unique for me personally as I have achieved a lot as a prized fighter. I couldn’t have attained all these goals boxing-wise on any other months except September, “ he says.
“ The most remarkable achievement during this historic month was me becoming South Africa and Africa’s first boxer to win the WBC championship belt at home. I won’t forget that night during the bout when I unleashed a powerful right hook that forced Catley crashing to the canvas to get the referee declare me the overall winner on the night,” says Thobela
Thobela, who is also the erstwhile SA lightweight and World Boxing Association (WBA) kingpin, regards the spring month as “ my lucky charm”.
“ I am planning to celebrate my birthday by watching tapes of all my wins and in particular, my encounter with Catley. That fight evokes great memories,” says the Rose, whose professional ring records spans 50 bouts in the paid ranks.
He is also widely remembered for beating the acclaimed South American puncher Tony Lopez on points to conquer the World Boxing Association lightweight crown at the Superbowl in Sun City in June 1993. However, he lost it to the Russian Orzubek Nazarov in a first defense in October the same year.
Now that his days as a prized fighter are over, the Rose finds time to plough back into the sport by promoting and managing boxers
“ I co-promote in Namibia with my partner Nestor Tobias. There are numerous young fighters here in SA whom we promote in Namibia. It’s so good to see talent coming through our shows,” explains Thobela.
But with the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions having dealt the fistic sport a low blow due to a lack of fights, Thobela cautions boxers to use their money wisely while they are still active in boxing, thus avoid being buried as paupers when they pass on while their boxing days are over.
“It’s painful to see some former boxers not being able to get decent burials as a result of them not having saved money wisely whilst they were still active in the ring. Boxing SA is currently addressing the issue of what can be done to help to boxers in times of difficulties.
“ Lehlohonolo ”Hands of Stone” Ledwaba who passed away in July, had a good financial plan while still alive , hence he got a decent burial . This must hopefully be a wake-up call to other pros,” concluded Thobela.
Ledwaba, the former IBF junior lightweight champion who famously lost one of his bouts to Manny Pacquiao from the Philippines, succumbed to a Covid-19- related illness in July.
