1952 — Vic Toweel loses his world bantamweight crown as he’s knocked out in the first round by Australian Jimmy Carruthers at the Rand Stadium in Johannesburg. He was making the fourth defence of his belt, but Toweel struggled to reduce weight for this fight, which was delayed twice. It was initially supposed to be on October 3, but Toweel had eye problems. Then it was November 8, but in late October Carruthers was hospitalised with a “poisoned” left foot, with his middle toe requiring penicillin shots. Some locals believe it was an intentional ploy to keep Toweel in the strength-sapping weight-reduced zone for longer.
1996 — Cassius Baloyi wins the first of his world titles when he outpoints Frankie Toledo to take the WBU junior-featherweight crown in St Petersburg, Florida.
1997 — African champions Bafana Bafana are hammered 0-3 by European champions Germany in a friendly in Düsseldorf. Dietmar Hamann, Oliver Bierhoff and substitute Jorg Heinrich scored for the hosts.
1997 — The Springboks score five tries to beat France 36-32 in the first Test at Stade de Gerland in Lyon, having led 36-15 with 20 minutes to play. Hooker James Dalton, fullback Percy Montgomery, centre Dick Muir and wingers Pieter Rossouw and James Small dotted down for SA. The home side scored three tries.
2003 — Benni McCarthy scores early in the second half to give Bafana Bafana the lead against Egypt in a friendly in Cairo, but SA still go down 1-2. Skipper Abdel Hady scored in the 73rd minute and striker Mido headed in the winner in the dying seconds.
2006 — Bafana Bafana are beaten 1-0 by Egypt in a Nelson Mandela Challenge match in London that attracted only 3,000 fans. The match, staged at the 12,000-seater Griffin Park, home to third division side Brentford, almost didn’t happen with both teams threatening to pull out over fees and accommodation.
2008 — Replacement wing Jaque Fourie scores a try as the Springboks fight back from 0-10 down at halftime to beat Scotland 14-10 at Murrayfield. Ruan Pienaar, playing at flyhalf, kicked three penalties.
2009 — Loots Bosman scores 94 off 45 and captain Graeme Smith 88 from 44 as the Proteas beat England by 84 runs in the final second T20 at Centurion. SA posted 241/6. The series was shared 1-1.
2011 — Zimbabwe beat Bafana Bafana 2-1 in a friendly at Rufaro Stadium in Harare. Bradley Grobler scored on debut to give SA the lead, but a brace by Knowledge Musona gave the hosts victory.
2013 — Bafana Bafana sweep aside Swaziland 3-0 in a friendly in Mbabane. Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Bongani Zungu and Thabo Nthethe all scored in the second half.
2013 — Captain Faf du Plessis scores an unbeaten 58 as the Proteas beat Pakistan by six runs in the second T20 to take the series 2-0. Wayne Parnell took 3/25 to help SA restrict the home team to 144/9 in their 20 overs.
2014 — Bafana Bafana secure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations by beating Sudan 2-1 at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban. Thulani Serero and Tokelo Rantie scored for SA before conceding a soft goal to the visitors.
2014 — Pat Lambie’s accurate boot sees the Springboks to a 31-28 victory over England at Twickenham. Centre Jan Serfontein, scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and flanker Schalk Burger scored tries to match the trio of five-pointers by England. Lambie converted two and added three penalties as well as a 76th minute drop goal which secured the victory.
2016 — Kyle Abbott takes six wickets as the Proteas dismiss Australia for 161 to win the second Test in Hobart by an innings and 80 runs for a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. Abbott had taken three wickets and Vernon Philander five when bowling out the hosts for 85 in the first innings. Quinton de Kock made 104 to push SA to 326, a lead of 241.
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