Piliso puts faith in God... and fists
Christian boxer keen to change sport’s image
Could Luvo Piliso, an upcoming boxer who is also a born-again Christian, change perceptions about the sport?
The 21-year-old who describes himself first as a child of God, said he was driven by a life of worship and excellence.
Piliso said boxing is deemed a violent sport and most sportsmen get tainted by a fast lifestyle of fame, money and girls, which are stereotypes that he would love to challenge.
Having played sports all his life, Piliso said boxing was never in his plans.
“When I grew up I wanted to be a lawyer, funny enough, [but] a friend of mine who boxes, Siyabonga Mabena, said he saw something in me. This was three years ago. I was so passionate about seeing him win, I would look up tips and tricks in various places [sources] for him, and they worked,” said Piliso.
Piliso is doing his first year at Sport and Fitness College ETA (Exercise Teachers Academy) and started training as a boxer in his matric year in 2014. He has fought 11 fights, with only one of them being official. He had to join a local boxing gym and be mentored over two years before he could be affiliated to the Johannesburg Amateur Boxing Organisation.
“Before anyone can box it is important that they are well-trained and shadow someone for at least a few years; those are basic requirements. I shadowed Siyabonga for three years before being accepted.”
After losing his first official match last year, Piliso has taken things up a notch to be better prepared in his next fight.
“I wake up at 1am to do my 10km jog. It gives me a competitive edge that when my opponent is sleeping I am training and even when he’s up working I am also up working. It is also during this time that I pray and get to meditate on God’s word.” He has a rigorous training schedule. “I train from 10am to 1pm when I am not at school. When at school, I train for an hour in the morning and an hour again after school.”
His passion for the techniques of boxing dominates the conversation.
“I am obsessed with the science of boxing. The breathing, throwing of a punch is like playing chess in a ring, you have to think about your moves and think what move your opponent will make next.”
Boxing has helped Piliso grow tremendously from the impulsive young man he once was and who used to be embroiled in unnecessary fights.
“I was in court twice in Grade 10, for assault. At first the guy was smoking weed and I told him to stop and he didn’t, so I slapped him. The second time was when a fight broke out and I punched an innocent person by mistake.
“When I told my mentor that I wanted to box he said I should not be an emotional boxer [but should be] using the ring as an outlet. That conversation helped me a lot,” he recalled.
Piliso is preparing for his second official match on Saturday.
“I am excited and nervous, and that day is my birthday as well, so I am hoping for the best.”