1-2-5, a local boxing club based in Gaborone has been crowned the champions of Best of the Best Boxing Tournament that was held at Molapo Crossing in Gaborone on the 15th and 16th March 2025 after scooping a total of five medals.
Four boxers from 1-2-5 boxing club Monty Chiepe, Skhathiso Makhani, Odean Lessau and Kago Raokgwathile won gold medals while Bond Ngubula won a silver medal and best fight trophy.
The tournament had brought together 11 local boxing clubs including Tsholofelo, Glen Valley, Francistown, Diamond Trading Company Botswana (DTCB), Police, University of Botswana (UB), Eastern Military Garrison (EMG), Sir Seretse Khama Barracks, Diamond, Prisons Boxing and 1-2-5.
Francistown Boxing Club emerged position two while followed by Diamond Boxing Club on position three.
In an interview, Bond Boxing Club Coach Bond Ngubula said that they worked hard in preparation for the tournament where they fielded a total of five boxers for the tournament and they all got medals.
Giving a brief background of the club, Ngubula said that their club was officially registered in 2008 and was initially based in Masunga before moving to Gaborone after two years. He expressed that the club is under Bond Boxing Promotion which is in charge of professional boxing events.
Botswana Boxing Association (BOBA) Secretary General Taolo Tlouetsile has told Times Sport that Best of the Best is a high-level national championship and it is a ranking tournament as its field is top four per weight categories.
Meanwhile, Tlouetsile has revealed that BOBA team that was supposed to participate at the 2025 IBA Women World Championships which were held in Serbia from the 8th-18th March 2025 did not manage to travel due to late confirmation of sponsorship by International Boxing Association (IBA). He said that the issue made it harder for the host country to assist with visas.
The team that was supposed to represent Botswana at the competition was made up of two boxers Phekie Bele and Gift Modise while Choga Ntoti and Gaone Motshwanaesi were appointed as team officials.
According to Tlouetsile, IBA had intended to assist BOBA with US$10 000 to send the team to the Championship. He had indicated that IBA previously funded their ladies team with US$20 000 to Women World Championships in New Delhi, India in 2023.
