Andre Thysse sadly passes away
Former SA super-middleweight champion Andre Thysse (20-8, 2KOs) has died at the age of 52 on Thursday morning, July 22, after a battle with Covid-19.
Thysse defended the national belt eight times from 2001 to 2005‚ a record for the division‚ but internationally he was less successful‚ losing all seven of his fights abroad‚ although some of his opponents were among the top fighters of the era.
He lost an IBO World title challenge to Briton Brian Magee in 2003.
He fought some of the best 168-pounders of his era including Mikkel Kessler, Juergen Braehmer, Lucien Bute, Sakio Bika, amongst others.
Born in Germiston, Guateng, his pro career ran for a decade between 1999-2009.
Thysse notched up 20 wins and eight defeats during this time and was stopped twice‚ by German Mikkel Kessler and Northern Irishman Brian Magee‚ but he always remained on his feet.
In his most famous win, he dethroned Englishman David Starie of the Commonwealth title on a unanimous decision at Carnival City.
The win launched his unsuccessful international campaign‚ losing to Magee‚ then the holder of the marginal IBO title‚ and WBC champion Markus Beyer.
He also lost to Dane Mikkel Kessler and Lucian Bute of Canada‚ both of whom went on to win mainstream world championships‚ as did Magee.
Thysse lost only once in SA‚ a six-round points decision to Samson Khoza which he avenged with a technical knockout victory for the vacant Gauteng belt a year later.
Thysse‚ who ran a toy import business‚ continued in boxing behind the scenes. He operated as a promoter through the company Real Steel‚ and although they won an award as newcomers early on‚ they hit problems.
They staged the fatal 2014 tournament after which female fighter Phindile Mwelase died. A few years later a planned tournament collapsed‚ which Thysse blamed on an overeas conman who had posed as a sponsor.
Thysse was frequently visible at ringside‚ and was particularly audible when his son‚ professional fighter Brandon‚ was in action.
He was charged by Boxing SA earlier in the year for contravening the regulator’s Covid regulations‚ which Thysse publicly questioned‚ saying he had only helped a sponsor get access to a tournament.
Thysse is survived by his wife and three children.
BBN would like to express their sincere condolences to Andre's family and friends at this difficult time.
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