By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

Former Commonwealth British Empire and South African Super Middleweight champion Andre Thysse became yet another boxing statistic of the pandemic when he died of COVID-19 Novel Coronavirus on July 22, 2021, at age 52.

A native of Germinston, Gauteng, South Africa, between 1999 and 2009 Thysse compiled a record of 20-8 with 12 knockouts. Although Thysse held the South African and British Commonwealth area titles during his career, he never held a world title.

In his two world title bout attempts, Thysse first lost to the then 18-0 Brian Magee in the tenth round of a scheduled 12 round International Boxing Organization in June 2003 in Manchester, England. Thysse then lost a 12 round decision to the then 28-1 World Boxing Council World Super Middleweight champion Marcus Beyer in February 2004 in Dresden, Germany. In June 2004, Thysse lost in June 2004 by stoppage in the eleventh round to the then 33-0 Mikkel Kessler for the World Boxing Council International Super Middleweight title in Copenhagen, Denmark. After losing four regional World Boxing Council and International Boxing Federation Super Middleweight and Light Heavyweight title bouts, Thysse closed out his career with a fifth round knockout of Emmanuel Duma in September 2009 in Kempton Park, South Africa, and then wisely retired.