Leemisa Thuseho
LOCAL boxers dominated this year’s Best of Best Boxing Tournament in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, returning home with 11 gold medals and five silver medals.
Held from 2 to 4 September, the tournament attracted teams from various provinces across South Africa, as well as national teams from Zimbabwe. It was organised by Thubalethu Boxing Club.
Team Lesotho, which returned home on Monday, was declared the overall winner and received a trophy.
The men’s senior team was led by Mathealira Seholoholo, who won gold in the 57kg category, while 2026 Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, Poana Khoahli, also claimed gold in the 67kg category.
Tanki Nkuni (51kg), Toka Litabe (60kg), Monaheng Khebe (63.5kg) and Refiloe Thai (71kg) also struck gold in their respective weight categories.
Lerotholi Leshoboro settled for silver in the 75kg category.
In the women’s senior category, Rapelang Malesela won gold in the 67kg division.
Malesela is fresh from making history as the first Lesotho female boxer to win a Commonwealth Games medal, after claiming bronze at the 2026 Games in Glasgow, Scotland, held from 23 July to 2 August.
She was joined on the gold-medal podium by Fusi Seholoholo (50kg) and Pulane Kokosi (52kg).
Team Lesotho also performed strongly in the youth categories, with Tieho Tšehla winning gold in the men’s 51kg division, while Tlotlang Khali (48kg) and Letlotlo Mohali (57kg) secured silver medals.
In the women’s youth category, Sebabatso Phomane won gold in the 60kg division, while Sentsane Mokhehle took silver in the 48kg category.
Team coach, Thabiso Nketu, said he was satisfied with the boxers’ performance, adding that the tournament provided valuable competition as they prepare for upcoming international events.
“The performance was top class, and I think we got the challenge we needed, as these kinds of tournaments form part of the senior boxers’ preparations for the All Africa Games,” Nketu told the Lesotho Times this week.
The 2027 African Games will be held in Cairo, Egypt, from 20 January to 7 February 2027.
Lesotho Boxing Association (LeBA) team manager, Taole Letšasa, said the tournament also provided an important preparatory platform for the under-20 boxers ahead of the African Union Sports Council (AUSC) Region 5 Youth Games, which will be held in Maputo, Mozambique, in December.
