Peter Mathebula, the first black South African to win a world title, died on Saturday night, according to multiple reports. He was 67.
Mathebula’s sister Dianah Tlhale told SABC News in South Africa that Mathebula had been “in and out of hospital before deteriorating.” He died at Leratong Hospital in Johannesburg.
Mathebula, nicknamed “Terror,” won the WBA flyweight title by defeating Tae-Shik Kim of South Korea by a split decision (see video below) in December 1980 at the Olympic Auditorium in Los Angeles.
It was his first fight outside his native country. And, according to the BBC, it was only three years after a law banning whites from fighting blacks was lifted in South Africa.
Mathebula (36-9, 17 KOs) recalled his joy during an interview with Sowetan Live in 2012.
“I thought I was dreaming,” he said. “The reality of me being the first black South African world champion did not sink in immediately. I did not believe that I beat an incredible boxer like Tae-Shik Kim. I won on a split decision and you can imagine my anxiety before the final announcement. But I remained hopeful about my chances because I believed I did well (enough) to convince the judges.
“When the ring announcer paused a bit before making the final verdict, I nearly stopped breathing . But seconds later the announcer screamed ‘and the new WBA flyweight champion of the world, Peter Terroooooor Mathebulaaaaaa!’ I nearly collapsed with joy. It was unbelievable.”
Mathebula was welcomed home as a hero.
“Unbelievable!” he said. “I’ve never seen so many people overjoyed by one’s victory. Their celebrations at the airport just reminded me how important the title was. I was given a hero’s welcome. I was humbled to see white people welcoming me. My wife and children were there screaming my name.
“We were driven as a family through the streets of Johannesburg up to my house in Mohlakeng. The party continued throughout the weekend, or was it a month?”
Mathebula’s career declined quickly after his greatest triumph. He lost his belt in his first defense, a seventh-round knockout at the hands of Santos Laciar in March 1981 in Johannesburg.
“Too much celebrating cost me my title, perhaps,” he said.
Mathebula then lost back-to-back fights to Betulio Gonzalez in Venezuela and never again fought for a world title. However, he did win his final fight, a 10th-round TKO over Joseph Molefe that gave him the Transvaal bantamweight title, before retiring at 31 in 1983.
“I wanted to quit on a high considering that my win over Molefe was the third in a row,” he said. “I’m happy that I’m not lost to the game.”
Mathebula went on to work with young fighters.
“The legend is gone, long live the legend,” the BBC quoted Boxing South Africa head Tsholofelo Lejaka as saying. “Not only was Bra Terror a trailblazer‚ but he was the gentleman of the sport through and through.”