Africa-Press – Lesotho. Lesotho national team boxer, Tlholohelo Mokhesi believes anything is possible in boxing “it doesn’t matter how tough the opponent is, I always tell myself that if I
bleed he will,” he said. In an exclusive interview with Informative Sport Mokhesi talked about his upbringing, how he ended up in boxing and what he has in store for
the Olympics. “I will rather finish the fight bleeding than give up, if the opponent is tough he has to know that I am also one of the toughest people to ever face,” said Mokhesi.
All these he said keeps him motivated and fighting on despite things being tough in the ring. Born on February 28, 1999 at the Berea hospital, Mokhesi was raised in the hospital yard as his late father, Thabo Mokhesi, worked for the hospital.
After his father passed on, his family moved to Ha Ntjabane, Teya-Teyaneng. He enrolled for a primary level education at Shalon English Medium International School from 2004 to 2009 before moving to Makhaola High School in
2010 to do his Form A, where he withdrew around midyear to begin a new academic
year at Maseru Day High School in 2011. “My childhood had its ups and downs but I had a normal childhood like any other kid,” he added. Mokhesi graduated this past weekend from Lerotholi Polytechnic College
after completing a Certificate in Electrical Installation studied he pursued from 2016 to 2019. His love for boxing he noted became evident in 2013 at his initial club and continues on to the current club, Lerotholi
Polytechnic Boxing Club while being coached by his first coach Meshak Letsoepa. “Letsoepa had a significant impact in my life as well as my boxing career.
I met him at a very young age and is one of the people who guided me in life eventually igniting my passion for boxing,” he added. Mokhesi used to be a soccer player until one day deciding to add boxing
skills to his skill. He then went hunting for a club to join for only three months but later decided boxing was his ultimate sport. Convincing his parent to join boxing he said was not an easy task but he
managed to win it in the end. “My mother was scared at first, asking me whether I recall Muhammad Ali(Late American professional boxer) who had brain damage, asking me if I also want
to suffer the same,” he disclosed. Aside from participating in a number of local tournaments he also represented the country in international events. In 2016
at the African Union Sport Council (AUSC) Region 5 Games in Angola he won Lesotho a bronze medal. In 2017 he was part of Team Lesotho at Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas
reaching the quarterfinals. “I received a bronze medal at the 2019 Zone IV African Boxing Championships held in Botswana in April,” he said. Three months ago, he
was in Morocco representing Lesotho at the 2019 Africa Games where he was booted out in the 2nd Preliminary stages. Earlier this year he was named the best boxer of
the tournament during this year’s national championship. Every athlete dreams of becoming an Olympian and Mokhesi is no exception. He longs to represent the country in this prestigious games before
he retires. Mokhesi’s mentor is the current Lesotho national team coach Sebusiso Keketsi. “He has been and continues to be a blessing in life and boxing career, for instance before we left for the African Games he
would pick me up at 5am for morning sessions. He is the one who instilled in me the phrase ‘believe in yourself Just do what you do best’. I can’t deny I had self-doubt at some point but he managed
to uplift me,” mentioned Mokhesi. Like any other boxer Mokhesi has his own style of fighting which is, to hit and move from a dangerous position. “That is the only style of fight I prefer and I am not planning on changing
it but rather to improve on it,” he said. Every journey has its ups and downs, and Mokhesi also has come across a fair share of challenges. He shared with us one of his most painful moments in his
boxing career, when in 2017 during the Commonwealth games, the referee stopped a fight in round one on account of the opponent having too much power. “Every time he landed a punch it was so powerful the referee had to stop
it. I was disappointed because I had well prepared for the tournament and felt nothing was missing,” revealed Mokhesi. There were some great moments though, which include a win of his first national
championship in 2017 while representing Lesotho internationally. He said his favourite boxer is the American professional boxing promoter -Floyd Mayweather.
“His story inspires me, he rose from nothing to something big. In my opinion he is the most skilled boxer of all time. Although he has retired, I hope
he makes another great come back because it’s not the first time he retires,” noted Mokhesi. Among some of the challenges he is faced with as a boxer is the provocative behavior from peers in the
streets with the hope that he would fall for their silly doings. “To avoid being tempted, I just simply disconnect from those types of people,” he said.
He advised young upcoming boxers to believe in themselves and stay focused in their career, quickly pointing out that they have to have it in mind that academic qualifications need to come first.
“In our country a person does nothing when he retires, so it is wise to have a plan B.
“Boxing is not yet a career in Lesotho. Boxing and academics do not clash as long as one makes time and creates a balance for both sides.
When examinations approach it’s important to put boxing aside for a while and focus on the exams,” added Mokhesi. Mokhesi believes that sport politics is one other factor hindering the growth of boxing in Lesotho.
“For example, Lesotho Boxing Association currently does not have a president due to politics,” he pointed out. For Lesotho boxing to grow,
Mokhesi suggested monthly tournaments by the boxing association and also regular international tournaments. “Our standard of fighting would improve unlike now
when we go for international tournaments without proper preparation. In August we went to Morocco for the Africa Games without any preparatory fights with our last fights being in April in Botswana,” stated Mokhesi.
