Blast from the past: Thobela KOs Catley for third world title

Today in SA sports history: September 1

1928 — New Zealand beat the Springboks 13-5 in the fourth Test at Newlands in Cape Town to draw the four-match series 2-2. Centre JC van der Westhuizen scored SA’s only try, with flyhalf Bennie Osler adding the conversion. Forward Tuna Swain scored the visitors’ only try, but centre Mark Nicholls slotted two penalties and a drop, worth four points in those days.

1956 — The Springboks miss a chance to share the series spoils with the All Blacks in New Zealand as they go down 5-11 in the final Test at Eden Park in Auckland. It was one try apiece with winger Roy Dryburgh going over for SA and the conversion landed by fullback and captain Basie Vivier. For the home side, fullback Don Clarke converted Tiger Hilton-Jones’s try and added two penalties. New Zealand took the series 3-1.

2000 — Former two-time lightweight world champion Dingaan Thobela wins his third crown five divisions heavier when he stops Englishman Glenn Catley in the last 12th round to claim the WBC super-middleweight belt at Carnival City. Thobela, way behind on points at that stage, dropped the champion twice in the last minute, with the referee waving it over with seven seconds remaining.

2010 — Cassius Baloyi and Mzonke Fana fight for the vacant IBF junior-lightweight title that they’d both previously held, with Fana winning on points at Emperors Palace. Baloyi had won their first encounter in 2008. On the same bill IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane stopped countryman Zolani Tete in the fifth round.

2012 — Nkosinathi Joyi suffers a shock defeat, losing his IBF strawweight title to unheralded Mexican Mario Rodriguez on a seventh-round knockout in Sinaloa, Mexico. Fighting in Panama City on the same day, Moruti Mthalane retained his IBF flyweight title by stopping Roberto Nunez in the eighth round.