Victor "Vic" Anthony Toweel was a South African boxer and former Undisputed World Bantamweight Champion.
17 Facts About Vic Toweel
1.
2.
Vic Toweel was the first South African to hold a world title.
3.
Victor Anthony Toweel was born on 12 January 1928 in Benoni, South Africa.
4.
Vic Toweel was the second eldest of five brothers and the son of Michael Joseph Toweel, who was of Lebanese descent.
5.
All of the Toweel brothers achieved success in the boxing world: Willie won an Olympic bronze medal and fought for a world title, Allan was a top trainer, Maurice an outstanding matchmaker and Jimmy a South African champion.
6.
Vic Toweel was an instinctive boxer who, at his best, flaunted incredible stamina, perfect balance and a blazing work ethic.
7.
Vic Toweel was a very successful amateur, winning Springbok colours, and compiling an unbelievable record of 188 wins with only two losses - 160 by knock out.
8.
Vic Toweel won East Rand, Transvaal and SA junior and senior titles from 1941 to 1948 and was No 1 choice for the 1948 Olympic team.
9.
Vic Toweel competed in the 1948 Summer Olympics in London in the bantamweight competition, but was eliminated in the first round by Arnoldo Pares of Argentina in a controversial decision.
10.
Vic Toweel made his professional debut on 29 January 1949, stopping Johannes Landman in the second round, the same night his brother Jimmy won the national lightweight title.
11.
Vic Toweel captured the British Empire Bantamweight Title, in his 11th fight.
12.
At that stage, Manuel Ortiz was a veteran of 110 fights whereas Vic Toweel had had only fought 13 contests as a professional.
13.
Vic Toweel successfully defended his world title against Danny O'Sullivan whom he dropped 14 times, winning him a place in the Guinness Book of Records, for the most knock downs in a world title fight.
14.
Vic Toweel's eyes were giving him trouble and he went to London where a successful operation was performed.
15.
On 6 November 1953 Vic Toweel had his last fight, in the welterweight division, when he stopped Harry Walker in the eighth.
16.
Vic Toweel was SA's first and so-far only undisputed world boxing champion.
17.
Vic Toweel retired to Australia in the 1980s and died aged 79 in Sydney, Australia, on Friday morning 15 August 2008.