Former boxing champion Dingaan Thobela, known affectionately as “The Rose of Soweto,” died on Monday, 29 April 2024. He was 57.
Dingaan Thobela dies: What’s the cause of death?
Thobela’s sudden death came after a period of declining health, which saw him absent from recent public engagements, including a Boxing SA symposium.
According to childhood friend Eddie Mutungutungu, Thobela had become unreachable by phone, prompting concerns.
“After he missed several calls, his family and the police were alerted and discovered him in his apartment,” Mutungutungu stated in a report.
While the exact medical cause of death has not been disclosed, it is known that Thobela had been unwell for some time.
Dingaan Thobela biography
Born on 24 September 1966, in Chiawelo, Soweto, Dingaan Thobela began his professional boxing career in 1986 and quickly rose through the ranks.
He won the WBO lightweight title in 1990 and went on to capture the WBA lightweight and WBC super-middleweight titles throughout his career.
Thobela was renowned for his resilience and skill inside the ring, securing major victories that endeared him to fans worldwide.
Despite facing challenges in weight management and later career defeats, Thobela’s legacy as a fighter remained strong.
He last fought professionally in 2006, having compiled a record marked by notable highs and challenging lows.
Reactions to Thobela’s death
The news of Dingaan Thobela’s death has elicited a wave of tributes from the sports community, with many expressing deep sadness at the loss of a South African sports icon.
Former opponents, colleagues, and friends have shared their condolences and memories of Thobela.
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