Celeb Twitter Round-Up: Tweeps Bid Farewell to Dingaan Thobela
South Africa are once again in mourning following the loss of another beloved sporting icon.
On Monday night, 29 April, professional boxer Dingaan Thobela was found dead in his Mayfair apartment in Johannesburg, Gauteng. He was 57-years-old.
The cause of Thobela’s death has yet to be confirmed, although reports say that the former world champion had been battling an illness for some time.
Fondly known as the “Rose of Soweto”, Thobela was born in 1966 and raised primarily by his grandmother. Bullied by other children, he turned to boxing – by the time he turned 20, he accrued an impressive amateur record of 80-3.
Turning pro in 1986, Thobela competed in multiple weight classes. In his career, he beat Mauricio Aves to win the WBO lightweight title in 1990; three years later, he defeated Tony Lopez for the WBO lightweight title.
In 2000, Thobela beat WBC super middleweight champion, Glenn Catley, for his title. He would retire six years later, having won 40 fights, lost 14 and garnered two draws.
Across Twitter/X, tweeps paid tribute to the Rose of Soweto, with many remembering his legendary championship bouts and the impact he had on their lives:
Rest in peace and power, Dingaan Thobela. You will be truly missed now and forever.
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