Boxing In South Africa: The Rose Of Soweto Ready To Bloom Again

The legendary “beef burger” man George Foreman, amongst a succession of other former greats, has done it. Now the ever-colourful Dingaan “The Rose of Soweto” Thobela is set to re-launch his boxing career and make a comeback to the professional ring on Friday October 27th at the Wembley Indoor Arena in Johannesburg.

South Africa’s most celebrated boxer of the 80’s and 90’s and a man who won WBC, WBA and WBO world titles in his heyday, will be challenging his old adversary Soon “Bazooka” Botes for the latter’s national light-heavyweight title.

Thobela’s decision to return to the ring could be a shot in the arm for what is by all accounts a very barren light-heavyweight division in this country and nobody is more thrilled at the latest development than flamboyant promoter Branco Milenkovic, head of the Branco Sports Productions consortium.

“We are very happy to have Dingaan back in our promotional stable. He is without a doubt, next to my current partner Baby Jake Matlala, regarded as the most celebrated South African boxer of all times,” said Milenkovic.

“On my numerous travels abroad, in any of the five continents, anyone who is remotely familiar with African boxing, immediately makes mention of two names – Baby Jake and Dingaan,” he added.

Thobela, a hardened veteran of 55 fights (40 wins – 26 by KO – 13 losses, 2 draws) will engage in battle with Botes, himself sporting a 35-fight resume’ (25 wins – 14 KO’s – 10 losses), for the second time in his career.

The mere mention of their previous scrap on February 19th 2000 for the SA super-middleweight title at Carnival City, which Thobela won on a majority decision over 12 rounds, elicits a good deal of discussion at any boxing gathering.

To this day, Botes still believes he was unlucky on that occasion not to get the nod from the judges. That fight proved to be Thobela’s springboard to a challenge for Glen Catley’s WBC title, which he annexed by way of a dramatic 12th round stoppage on September 1st 2000, to become only the second South African after Sugarboy Malinga to take home a coveted WBC championship belt.

Most boxing experts are cynical about Thobela’s comeback, who at the same age as promoter Milenkovic (41), many feel should be focusing on his successful business interests, rather than trading leather between the ropes.

But, such is Thobela’s condition right now, that just two weeks prior to the fight, he’s tipping the scales at 84kg’s, just 4kg’s outside the light-heavyweight limit.

Most skeptics are doubting that Thobela will make the weight, but Boxing South Africa public relations officer Loyisa Mtya is making sure the sport in this country doesn’t suffer yet another embarrassing black eye with a series of daily check-up’s on Thobela at training, to ensure he makes the required weight limit.

Botes, eight years Thobela’s junior, but still a veteran by most accounts, captured the national light-heavyweight title in his last outing on March 3rd by stopping Erasmus Magwaza in the eighth round and is looking forward to the possibility of launching a belated international career if he gets past the Thobela hurdle.

If the respective contenders’ ring records are an accurate gauge and when one considers the punching power of both men, this fight is unlikely to go the distance.

The fight will be broadcast live on SABC Sport’s “Blow by Blow – Uncut “ on SABC 2 at 10pm on Friday October 27th. Tickets will be on sale at the Wembley Arena on the day. Unreserved seating R50-00. Ringside tickets R100-00.