Blast from the past: Thobela pounds his way to first world title

Today in SA sports history: September 22

1990 — Dingaan Thobela wins the first of his three world titles when he scores a split-decision victory over Mexico’s Mauricio Aceves to lift the WBO lightweight crown in Brownsville, Texas.

1998 — Hawk Makepula wins the vacant marginal WBU junior-flyweight title on a fifth-round technical decision over Rafael Torres of the Dominican Republic in New York.

2007 — A largely second-string Springbok team deliver a sloppy performance as they struggle to beat Tonga 30-25 in a World Cup group match in Lens, France. Ruan Pienaar, playing at fullback, scored two tries for SA, with loose forwards Bobby Skinstad and Juan Smith going over for the other two. Tonga scored three tries.

2009 — Graeme Smith top-scores 58 off 44 balls, but the Proteas lose their opening ICC Champions Trophy match to Sri Lanka by 55 runs on Duckworth/Lewis. SA had needed 262 from 37.4 overs.

2011 — The Springboks score 12 tries as they annihilate neighbours Namibia 87-0 in a World Cup group match in North Shore City. Wingers Gio Aplon and Francois Hougaard, and replacement centre Juan de Jongh, scored two tries each.

2012 — AB de Villiers hits 30 off 13 balls as the Proteas beat hosts Sri Lanka by 32 runs in a rain-shortened World T20 match in Hambantota. SA scored 78/4 in their seven overs.

2019 — Quinton de Kock scores 79 from 52 balls to lead the Proteas to a nine-wicket win over India in the final third T20 in Bengaluru. Kagiso Rabada took 3/39, including the key scalp of Virat Kohli, Beuran Hendricks 2/14 and Bjorn Fortuin 2/19 to restrict the hosts to 134/9. The win meant SA tied the series at 1-1. The opening match had been abandoned.

2019 — Brad Binder wins the Moto2 race at the Aragon motorcycle Grand Prix in Spain.