1977 — Former SA heavyweight champion Mike Schutte outpoints world title contender Chuck Wepner over 10 rounds at the Wembley Stadium in Johannesburg. He survived after being tagged in the ninth round, and received an extra minute’s break at the start of the 10th round when the ring lights suddenly went out. Wepner had lost his 1975 title bid to Muhammad Ali in brave fashion, inspiring the Rocky movie by Sylvester Stallone.
1994 — Hansie Cronje scores his maiden ODI century as South Africa edge Australia by just five runs at the Wanderers in the opening match of their home series. Cronje hit 112 from 120 balls as SA reached 232/3 in their 50 overs. SA restricted the Aussies to 227/5 with Eric Simons taking 2/29 in his 10 overs. That would be the first of only two hundreds Cronje would score in limited overs internationals, the second also coming against Australia later that year.
2000 — Hawk Makepula and Baby Jake Matlala face off for the WBO junior-flyweight title at Carnival City. Veteran Matlala started off slowly, but by the final bell he was in control of the fight. The judges, however, gave it to Makepula unanimously, one by three points, the second by five and the third by six. On the same bill, Corrie Sanders knocked out American Al Cole in the first round to keep his marginal WBU heavyweight crown, and Sebastiaan Rothmann outpointed Damon Reid of the US to keep his WBU cruiserweight belt.
2017 — Quinton de Kock scores 69 from 64 balls as the Proteas beat New Zealand by four wickets in Hamilton in the first ODI of a five-match series. SA chased down the 208 target in the 34th over.





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