Is it over for Thobela?

2002-11-30 14:39

Johannesburg - Close friends of Dingaan Thobela say he must realise that the curtain has fallen on his career and it is time to hang up his gloves.

Family and friends have conveyed their concern after Thobela's points defeat to Mikkel Kessler for the vacant IBA super middleweight title in Denmark on Friday night.

"His name will still be mentioned among the best sporting heroes our country has ever produced," said Thobela's relatives who wanted to remain anonymous. "Time is against him and I do not mean this in a bad faith. Dingaan is a successful business man and he should direct his energies in his businesses and his promotion rather."

But the Rose of Soweto is not prepared to wilt that easily, even though he suffered his 10th defeat against 40 wins (26 knockouts).

"I am not done yet," was his determined reaction to calls for his retirment from the ring. "I will sit down with my trainer Norman Hlabane and plan my future. I am not making any excuses but I believe that if I can be given a rematch I promise I will do well."

His hopes and wishes of winning a fourth world title withered at the Falconer Centre when Thobela was outsmarted by an energetic Kessler over 12 rounds.

The Danish sensation, who is only 23-years old, did not only claim the vacant title but also retained his unblemished record of 29 victories (22 stoppages) while the wilting "Rose" suffered his third consecutive defeat.

Thobela was outpointed by Dave Hilton (December 2000) and Eric Lucas (last year November).

'Things just did not go my way'

He has done superbly by winning three world titles. Now his fans sayhe should realise that his power, venom and determination he had when he was still campaigning in the lightweight division has deserted him.

At 37, Thobela is slow and does not throw enough punches - something he did at ease when winning both the WBO and WBA lightweight titles in 1990 and 1993.

He had promised to stop the rookie on Friday within the distance, but later confessed to have been unable to corner Kessler even when the youngster looked tired.

"I thought he would run out of gas midway through the fight but he did not. It's not a nice feeling. I had high hopes but things just did not go my way," he said with emotion.

He said it was a deserved victory for Kessler.

"He fought very well and he was the busiest between us. He threw more punches than mine and he was very strong. I cannot remember the scorecard but it's about three or four margins."

Thobela whose bid for the fourth title after adding the WBC super middleweight title to the two that he won years ago was shattered by the Dane, who was making a debut in a world championship.

Thobela admitted that Kessler was as good as his record suggested. "He said it was the first time that he bombarded his opponent with an avalanche of punches, but that opponent still stood there in front of him," said Thobela.

'He ran away from me'

By his own admission Thobela has become an easy target. This is a chilling statement considering that Thobela, whose illustrious professional career started at lightweights (62.10kg), was now absorbing punches from super middleweight boxers (76.20kg).

Granted Thobela outpointed Soon Botes and flattened Glen Catley for both the SA and WBC super middleweight titles respectively two years ago but, he did so after taking severe poundings.

The fact is Thobela cannot afford to continue taking punches from heavier guys. He is getting hurt.

"There are rounds where I had him, but I could not corner him. He ran away from me and also used his height very well," said Thobela who had not fought since being stopped in eight rounds by Lucas for the WBC title last year November.

His defeat in Denmark was a bitter pill to swallow for Hlabane. The mentor's re-union with the boxer he guided from the amateur ranks to winning both the WBO and WBA titles in 1990 and 1993 respectively, was not what Hlabane had expected.

They had parted ways in 1996.

Heavyweights Joseph Chingangu (Zambia) and Isaac Mahlangu (SA) were knocked out in fourth and third rounds respectively while Patrick Simelane lost on points in six rounds in the other bouts earlier on.

- SAPA