Batshegi not throwing in towel yet

THATO KALA
Correspondent | Tuesday September 18, 2012 00:00

 

Batshegi, a former Zone Six and African champion, was humbled by the Mogoditshane Senior Secondary School's Form Five student and afterwards took his bandages off and gave them away.

His gesture gave the impression that the Glenn Valley Boxing Club pugilist was hanging his gloves.The announcer even asked the spectators to give Batshegi a standing ovation for a successful boxing career before he went on TV to bid farewell to the boxing fraternity.

However, he has turned around saying he will only retire after the Best of the Best Tournament in December. He is out to get revenge against his teenage rival, Bagwasi, who beat him for the second successive time. The two squared off in the Inter-club Challenges and the teenager emerged victorious. 

'I am not retiring, I wanted to retire but he (Bagwasi) beat me. I want to end my career on a high note with a gold medal; so I am now waiting for the Best of the Best Tournament in December. He (Bagwasi) will prove whether he can beat me,' a frustrated Batshegi told Mmegi Sport.

Interestingly, his young rival is ready to take him on again. 'Ke tshaba modimo hela (I fear God only),' said the youngster. Batshegi, 24, added that he was going to work hard in the coming months for the December tournament. And he is eager to face the youngster again.

He, however, confirmed that he would no longer feature for the national team. He had his first stint in the country's colours in the junior national team in 2002 before his promotion to the senior team two years later.

Saturday's finals were his 11th and in nine of them he has won gold, making the past weekend's loss only his second in the competition. The referee had to stop the contest (RSC) after Bagwasi battered the national team veteran. Batshegi urged the Botswana Boxing Association (BoBA) to organise more tournaments to give young boxers exposure as well as help coaches discover young talent.