Former boxer Dingaan Thobela dies at 57

Former boxing champion Dingaan Thobela, also known as the "Rose of Soweto," has passed away. The boxer's body was reportedly found in his apartment in Mayfair, Johannesburg. A close friend, Eddie Mutungutu confirmed his passing: "I struggled to reach him on his mobile and I was worried. I then contacted his family to gain access to his apartment, and we found he was no more." The retired boxer has been ill for some time according to a friend but was working on recovering. The three-world title champion from Soweto was meant to attend a boxing event last week but could not be due to ill health. The 57-year-old learned boxing after being bullied by older children, as a way of defending himself. With the guidance of Norman Have, who taught him that he could be a professional boxer, he won his first national title before turning professional in June 1986. After two fights, which he won, he moved to campaign at the lightweight level toward a world title shot. With over three decades of boxing experience he had retired, however, was still involved in the world of boxing.