From street fighter to professional boxer
Calistus Kolantsho | Monday November 16, 2026 06:00
The 28-year-old told MmegiSport that growing up as the only boy in a single-mother household alongside four sisters was far from easy. With no father figure, he felt compelled to shoulder responsibilities beyond his years. His mother, a hawker at the Francistown Bus Rank, worked hard to put food on the table and remained his biggest supporter. She even helped him obtain a driver's licence, paving the way for him to work as a driver.
Kenaope admits that the absence of a father figure put him at a disadvantage, but says he eventually managed to tame his troubled ways.
“Circumstances led me to be the big brother even though I was young. I started boxing in 2012 as a way of self-defence, and I also wanted to protect my sisters. I was always hurting because my parents were always quarrelling. One teacher at school realised that I was always involved in fights and he introduced me to boxing,” says the boxer. Kenaope made his debut in 2012 as a Form One student at Goldmine Junior Secondary School (JSS) in Francistown. He stepped into the boxing ring for the first time during the 2012 BISA competition. Kenaope reveals that the first bout was not easy because of fear, but he settled down after a few punches. “Since the first competition, I excelled, winning gold medals in all competitions until I completed Form Five. In June 2022, I became a professional boxer under the tutelage of Thuso ‘Scud Missile’ Khubamang in Gaborone. He decided to train me after learning that I was always beating people at bars,” he says.
Kenaope explains that Khubamang enrolled him under his stable because he had a sport rehabilitation programme in prisons. “But I joined him coming from outside, not as an inmate. I did not proceed with my education, and I decided to earn a living through boxing. Professional boxing in Botswana is growing, but promoters must work together,” he says.
Kenaope has competed in Venda, where he lost under controversial circumstances and accepted the split decision against Tumelo Mphahlele, who currently holds a Gauteng title. “Mphahlele is on fight number seven, and I am on fight number five, but he started boxing after me. That is an indication that other countries are pushing professional boxing. We just wish to have more bouts here at home,” he says. The Diamond Boxing Club boxer highlights that boxing is therapy and it is not only about winning, as it takes boxers out of tough emotional conditions. He says there is no time to be involved in bad intentions because he is focused on training. “My role model is Benjamin Whittaker, a British professional boxer who has held the IBF International light-heavyweight title since June 2024. He is a showman; he fights the way I wish I could. I have not fought against any tough opponent locally; in my division, I have won all my bouts with a knockout,” he adds. Kenaope says he rules in Botswana with a record of five fights, one draw, one loss and three knockouts (KO). Last year, in October, Kenaope won the National Junior Lightweight title. “The draw and loss were against South Africans. My next fight is in Francistown against Moabi Ngaka for the Botswana National Lightweight Championship on December 12. We started boxing together. I have long wanted to fight him. I am back to training after spilling Tshephang 'Gearbox' Babui’s oil,” he says.
For his part, Khubamang recalls that when he first met Kenaope, he saw a proper boxer. “He was explosive; he had intimidating psychological warfare and brutal knockout power. He had a rough upbringing, and boxing was his only way out,” says Khubamang. He adds Kenaope was ready to become a professional boxer and fortunately Diamond Boxing Club stakeholders agreed to admit him into the club. “He is a motivated individual and always motivates his teammates ahead of their bouts. I expect him to dominate Ngaka in his coming bout,” Khubamang says of Kenaope.
Fact File
Full names: Boifang Kenaope Place of birth: Francistown Date of birth: April 15, 1998 Coaches: Khubamang and Bokamoso Molaodi Style: Orthodox and can still fight with Southpaw Glove size: 8 oz Hobbies: Watching soapies such as Skeem Sam and Scandal. He is also a music composer and rapper Meal: Samp, chicken and bogobe