Padded punches bounce around the room as boxers circle each other, perfecting their footwork. Lightness of movement coupled with decisive blows are key in the ring, and at the Hillbrow Boxing Club, George Khosi coaxes greatness out of his students. In a neighbourhood plagued with overpopulation, unemployment, and crime, he’s fighting to transform youth’s lives.
Assembled at the site of an old petrol station in Hillbrow, South Africa, Khosi’s training centre is a place of refuge and discipline. He’s spent over two decades raising up generations of young people through the rigour of boxing. “Kids must be reared in a good way,” Khosi says. Having lived in Hillbrow for most of his life, Khosi has experienced the effects of poverty and hopelessness first-hand.
Khosi’s boxing career was cut short after a robbery 30 years ago. Shot and left for dead, he lost sight in his one eye. Three bullets are still lodged in his legs, giving him a limp. Up until that point, his record in the ring was stellar. With only four losses in over 200 fights, Khosi’s future was bright. But instead of letting the bitterness of his dashed dreams take root, the athlete focused his monumental energy on developing talent in his community. “I love boxing,” he says. “That’s my life.”
Khosi nurtures winners no matter their gender, and has successfully trained over 80 boxers from Hillbrow. He’s counting down the days to when his gym produces a world champion. Personal fame and glory, however, are not at the top of Khosi’s list. His desire is to see lives altered for the better. Taking what he has and giving his all, Khosi is moulding young people with tenacity and self-respect. “We can change South Africa,” he says. “We are leaders.”
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