03 Sep 2026

The battle lines are drawn as local top boxer, Kutlwano Ogaketse, prepares to come face-to-face with South Africa’s Aphiwe Mboyiya for the coveted International Boxing Organisation (IBO) All Africa Championship title belt in Gaborone on September 18.

Known for his exceptional ring movement and his astute ability to read his opponents, Ogaketse faces a formidable challenge against a tall and intimidating challenger.

Ogaketse and his technical team have been conducting extensive research, identifying that the South African’s dominant hand is his left.

“He is a tall, lanky guy we have watched his tapes, so we should be in tip-top shape and be ready for him,” Ogaketse stated.

The road to the historic championship has been filled with extreme logistical hurdles, as the main event was originally scheduled for May 18 before being postponed to May 29, only to be deferred again. 

Ogaketse admitted that the repeated delays turned the journey into a gruelling mental battle.

He emphasised that because that was the first ever IBO championship tournament to be hosted in the country, there was need for him to maintain peak focus. 

To ensure he reached optimal performance, the boxer revealed that he was currently working closely with a strength and conditioning specialist to maintain peak physical fitness ahead of the big date.

Beyond the tactical and physical training, Ogaketse acknowledged the daunting task of making weight ahead of the official pre-fight weigh-in card.

He said that shedding the final pounds was often the most gruelling part of a fighter’s camp, stating that losing weight was more painful than stepping inside the ring and getting a punch on the face. 

Meanwhile, the local pugilist must strictly tip the scales at the junior welterweight limit of 63.5 kilogrammes on fight night to guarantee the championship bout proceeds. ENDS