South African great Dingaan Thobela has died at the age of 57. Unfortunately, in Scandinavia (where I am based), Thovera is mainly remembered for the brutal beating he gave Mikkel Kessler in their 2002 IBA super middleweight title fight. .
However, it should be remembered that the “Rose of Soweto” for his career at a much lower weight. He won the WBO lightweight title by defeating Mauricio Aceves in 1990 and defended the title twice. Thovera lost to Tony Lopez in 1993, but won the rematch, but his downfall began in 1994 with back-to-back losses to Orzbek Nazarov.
Dingaan tried to make a comeback in the same year, facing English journeyman Carl Taylor, 11-22, but lost in a huge upset. Since then, Torvera has fought hard and cold, moving up to welterweight. Lost to Jeff McLeish and Willie Wise. Struggles with weight have always been an issue.
Then in 2000, clearly overweight, he defeated Glenn Catley to win the WBC super middleweight title. He was not a super middleweight, losing the title in his first defense and losing his last seven fights before retiring in 2006 with a record of 40-14-2.
Unfortunately in Denmark, Torvela is also remembered for “running away” after the weigh-in against Mads Larsen in 2003, apparently panicking after seeing how well Larsen was doing.