Proving to be part of a new generation of boxing talent, the Bloemfontein-based fighter Lehlohonolo Motsi (18) showed class in winning a medal at this year\u2019s South African National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) tournament. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Staged in Tzaneen, Limpopo, from 4 to 9 July, this competition featured youth and elite boxers, both male and female, from the nine provinces. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Motsi was part of the Free State team that was made up of 24 boxers X<\/span> 7 women and 17 men. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He finished on the podium as a bronze medalist, having surprised his tough, far more experienced opponents with his tenacity and talent. Amongst these opponents was the defending champion, Sinclair Ness, in the flyweight (50 kg) category. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Motsi was the only male competitor in the provincial team to return home with a medal. He came close to winning either silver or gold. However, he lost narrowly on points to Ness, the title holder from Gauteng. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt was a close contest, because he won via split decision,\u201d said a delighted Motsi. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A split decision occurs when two of the three judges score one competitor as the winner, while the third judge scores for the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unperturbed, the gutsy Motsi went on to win against another experienced opponent. He emerged victorious against Makhoba Siyanda, who hails from KwaZulu-Natal, thus improving his record of wins from 14 of 17 fights in total.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The hard-punching contender has lost only three fights since taking up boxing in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic was still an impediment to most sporting activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Motsi\u2019s inclusion in the Free State team was based on his merited performances at the provincial finals staged in Bloemfontein during May, as well as other pre-tournaments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In these bouts, he received two awards: in the one instance being acknowledged as the best boxer, and in the other being honoured with an accolade for the fastest knockout after the provincial final. <\/p>\n\n\n\n His mentor, David Molatlhoe, who also serves as the coach of the Bloemfontein-based Devil\u2019s Boxing Club, is elated with Motsi\u2019s achievement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThis was his debut, and I am very impressed that he stood his ground against such experienced opponents. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe missed out on the two national championships held in 2021 and 2022, because the provincial team did not participate,\u201d said Molatlhoe. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Proving to be part of a new generation of boxing talent, the Bloemfontein-based fighter Lehlohonolo Motsi (18) showed class in winning a medal at this year\u2019s South African National Boxing Organisation (Sanabo) 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