Dingaan Thobela, the legendary South African boxer, has sadly passed away at the age of 57 in Johannesburg. According to reports, they found him dead in his home after a bout of illness. In the wake of his sudden demise, the world has chimed in with its heartfelt messages.

As per reports, his friends grew concerned after he failed to receive their calls for several days. When they landed in his house in Mayfair, Johannesburg. They had to force open the door to only find him breathless. His close friend said to the media, “It was not like him to not answer his mobile phone and his family worried about him accompanied police to his home and found he had passed on”.

Lovemore Ndou, another South African fighter, was one of the earliest to mourn Thobela’s death. On his X, he posted a picture of the late fighter holding his book. Ndou also wrote, “I’m totally devastated, shattered and lost for words to hear about the passing of a life hero and friend, Dingaan Thobela. Rest in eternal peace my friend. My deepest condolences to the family.”

Last Friday, Thobela was supposed to attend Boxing South Africa’s Symposium as a star guest. However, his poor health deterred him from doing so. Thobela was popularly called, “Rose of Soweto”. His death comes days after the country marked the 30th anniversary of the fall of the apartheid system. The country’s sports minister in a statement noted, “As we celebrate 30 years of South African democracy, we mourn the loss of an athlete who did so much to elevate South African sport through his success in boxing.”

The statement further read, “We also celebrate a champion boxer who inspired the nation, future boxers and champions from Soweto, Mdantsane, Thohoyandou and other parts of the country.”

Thobela was one of the first international black fighters to rise during the apartheid. He won the WBO lightweight title in 1990 and also the WBA lightweight title in 1993. His golden arc in boxing came after he moved up to super-middleweight and beat Britain’s Glenn Catley for the WBC belt with a 12th-round stoppage in 2000. In 2006, he retired with a record of 40 wins, 14 losses and two draws. The loss of such a legend has invited multiple other names in South African sports to pay their homage.

Rest in peace messages flood in for South African boxing legend Dingaan Thobela

Kevin Lerena, the South African heavyweight who also hails from Johannesburg, remembered Thobela for the support he showed in the fighter’s career. On X, he posted an image of himself with the late fighter.

South African sports journalist, Thomas Kwenaite also brought his homage to the legendary fighter. He shared an image of himself with the fighter of X that was taken right after the latter had won the WBA crown in a historic matchup.

Carol Tshabalala, the sports broadcaster, also revered as the ‘First Lady of South African’ sports expressed her shock at the untimely passing of Thobela. She underscored his efforts in bringing South African talent to the global ring.

In his passing Dingaan Thobela leaves being a mark that can never be matched by anyone. A legend that he was, he will always be remembered for his contribution to the South African boxing culture. What are your thoughts about the legendary boxer’s career? Let us know in the comments section below.