1927 — Willie Smith, SA’s 1924 Olympic gold medallist, wins British recognition of the world bantamweight title when he beats Teddy Baldock on points in London. The fight was also the first fistic event to be covered live on radio in Britain. Smith’s claim to the world title was disputed and died after he lost his next bout in the US two months later. While never being regarded as a world champion at home at the time, Smith’s claim probably has merit when considered today in the context of alphabet organisations.
1990 — Vuyani Nene, who conquered future four-time world champion Baby Jake Matlala four times, loses in his only world title shot, getting stopped by IBF junior-bantamweight champion Robert Quiroga of the US in Pagliari, Italy.
1993 — The South African soccer team, featuring future stars like Lucas Radebe, Mark Fish and John Moshoeu, as well as coaches-to-be Pitso Mosimane and Steve Komphela, are thrashed 0-4 by Mexico in a friendly in Los Angeles. It equalled the 0-4 drubbing they had received at the hands of Nigeria nearly a year earlier, and the scoreline would be repeated twice more until being eclipsed with a 0-5 hiding by Brazil in 2014.
1996 — Opener Gary Kirsten scores an unbeaten 118 as the Proteas beat Pakistan by seven wickets to win the final of a four nations tournament in Nairobi. SA had bowled out their opponents for 203, with Allan Donald and Derek Crookes taking three wickets each.
2000 — Lehlohonolo Ledwaba makes the third defence of his IBF junior-featherweight title, knocking out Eduardo Alvarez of Argentina in the eighth round in Maidstone, England.
2002 — Herschelle Gibbs smashes 97 off 66 balls as the Proteas thump Bangladesh by 10 wickets in the second ODI at Willowmoore Park in Benoni to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Makhaya Ntini took 3/28 as SA restricted the visitors to 154/9.
2012 — The Springboks are beaten 32-16 by New Zealand in a Rugby Championship match at FNB Stadium. Bryan Habana scored SA’s only try, while the visitors crossed for four of their own.
2018 — Reeza Hendricks scores 66 and Heinrich Klaasen 59 as the Proteas beat Zimbabwe by four wickets in the third ODI in Paarl for a 3-0 series victory. SA reached the 229 target in the 46th over.
2018 — The All Blacks avenge their defeat in Wellington a few weeks earlier, beating the Springboks 32-30 at Loftus Versfeld. The visitors won the try count 4-3.
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