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Local boxers steal the show

Thabiso Mpolokeng (left) lands a punch on Zimbabwean boxer, Shungu Kupani. PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG
Thabiso Mpolokeng (left) lands a punch on Zimbabwean boxer, Shungu Kupani. PIC PHATSIMO KAPENG

Local boxers left a lasting impression during the third edition of the Boxing Fight Night Championship that was held on Friday evening at the Fairgrounds Holdings in Gaborone.

All eyes were on the main bout where Thabiso Mpolokeng stopped Zimbabwean boxer, Shungu Kupani, for the win in the eight rounds Super International Bantamweight contest. The two boxers seemed to have gone into the match with the same game plan, waited for the opponent to attack before they could fight back. At one moment, the referee had to caution the boxers in order for them to box. The battle between the two did not produce sparks that were expected from them, the match was slow to a point that spectators walked out of the arena and by the time the fight ended, half the arena was empty.

Mpolokeng is normally a counter attacker and the same style was displayed by the visiting Kupani. Mmusi Tswiigi had to dig deep to win the International Middleweight four round contest against Thembani Mhlanga of South Africa. It was clear from the beginning of the match that Mhlanga was a heavy hitter, fortunately Tswiigi made sure that the attack landed on his guards. Tswiigi used his expertise to hit, score and step back to avoid punishment by his opponent. The ever versatile Kagoetsile Raokgwathile picked his second knockout in professional boxing when he levelled Talent Munda from Zimbabwe in the International Featherweight contest. The match ended in round two of the six rounds due to a lot of body shots that Raokgwathile was punishing his opponents with. Raokgwathile shocked the local professional boxing fraternity when he knocked out former World Boxing Federation (WBF) Super Bantamweight International Champion, Onkarabile Mothibedi, in his debut in 2023. An entertaining clash was witnessed between Tshephang 'Rambo' Gomotho against Mothibedi in the six rounder National Featherweight contest.

Editor's Comment
Depression is real; let's take care of our mental health

It is not uncommon in this part of the world for parents to actually punish their children when they show signs of depression associating it with issues of indiscipline, and as a result, the poor child will be lashed or given some kind of punishment. We have had many suicide cases in the country and sadly some of the cases included children and young adults. We need to start looking into issues of mental health with the seriousness it...

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