In the Ring with France Lassie Mabiletsa
Friday, April 24, 2026 | 90 Views |
Mabiletsa's trophies and medals. PIC: PHATSIMO KAPENG
That 1987 clash at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, famously dubbed ‘The Super Fight’, ended not only in controversy, but in Marvin Hagler’s abrupt retirement from the sport. Nearly four decades later, in a quieter but no less symbolic moment, Mabiletsa, Botswana’s longest-reigning light heavyweight champion and Olympic trailblazer, is also stepping away.
Below, Mmegi’s scribe Maswabi, himself a retired ‘almost-was’ of the squared circle, steps back into the ring, not with gloves, but with questions. What follows is less an interview and more a 45-minute bout between memory and myth.
Unfortunately, petty thieves tend to be more vicious around this time as they also prepare for the festive season. Culturally, many Batswana go home for the holiday, and petty thieves are amongst those who go home. Burglaries, car break-ins, and attacks on unsuspecting pedestrians seem to be on the rise!That is not all, as scammers continue to take money from pensioners as well as other Batswana who may fall prey to their unscrupulous tactics....