Blast from the past: Mitchell gets into the world title Layne at Sun City

Today in SA sports history: September 27

1986 — Brian Mitchell wins the WBA junior-lightweight crown when he stops champion Alfredo Layne of Panama in the 10th round at Sun City. Layne was making his first defence after dethroning an ageing legend Wilfredo Gomez four months earlier. That defeat kick-started a chain of six straight losses, though in his next bout Layne had the satisfaction of knocking down future star Pernell Whitaker before losing on points. Mitchell would go on to make 12 defences of that belt, a record for the weight division.

1995 — Vuyani Bungu defends his IBF junior-featherweight title for the fourth time as he outpoints Laureano Ramirez of the Dominican Republic at the Carousel Casino, north of Pretoria.

2000 — Llewellyn Herbert wins Olympic bronze in the 400m hurdles at the Sydney Games. He ran a 47.81 sec SA record, but wasn’t able to catch winner Angelo Taylor, the American who went 47.50 to edge Hadi Souan Somayli of Saudi Arabia (47.53). The first four finishers all clocked area records or personal bests.

2003 — Hank McGregor wins the first of his multiple K1 marathon golds at the ICF Canoe World Championships in Valladolid, Spain, with countryman Anthony Stott taking bronze behind him. McGregor, also an 11-time Berg River canoe marathon champion, finished the 36km course in 2hr 54 min 7.11 sec, ahead of Attila Jambor of Hungary (2:54:08.78) and Stott (2:54:10.7).

2009 — Graeme Smith scores 141 from 134 balls, but the Proteas are still eliminated from the ICC Champions Trophy after losing their final group match against England at Centurion by 22 runs. The English made 323/8.

2014 — Hank McGregor successfully defends his K1 marathon world crown, taking gold in the 30km course at the ICF Canoe regatta in Oklahoma City in 2hr 12 min 07.157 sec.

2014 — Captain Jean de Villiers scores two tries as the Springboks beat Australia 28-10 in a Rugby Championship match at Newlands. Flank Marcell Coetzee and substitute flyhalf Pat Lambie also dotted down.