Pan-African and Zimbabwe heavyweight boxing champion Thamsanqa Dube was floored in a third round knockout by South African heavyweight hopeful Flo Simba in a non-title Golden Gloves’ Box-and-Dine Tournament at Emperors’ Palace on Monday night.
According to media reports from South Africa, an overweight Dube was sent to the canvas and the count was over in 2 minutes 10 seconds into the third round.
The fight was the main bout of the tournament and was scheduled for eight rounds.
By beating Dube, Simba atoned for his earlier knockout by former IBF champion François Botha at the same venue in June.
Earlier there were concerns about Dube’s weight and doubts about the fight taking place before he passed a late medical.
Dube’s blood pressure shot up at weigh-in last Wednesday and indications had been that a replacement was going to be sought for him before he got the green light to fight.
The Zimbabwean heavyweight pugilist has previously complained of ring-rust and unavailability of sparring partners during training and his weight has been a cause for concern.
Before leaving for South Africa last Tuesday, Dube said he had been trying to shed weight, but in vain.
- Chamisa under fire over US$120K donation
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Pension funds bet on Cabora Bassa oilfields
- Councils defy govt fire tender directive
Keep Reading
On Thursday he weighed 150kgs, 34kgs more than he weighed when he beat South African Jack Els to claim the World Boxing Association Pan-African heavyweight belt in April 2009.
