Punching proper
Ring Of Lies’ actors really are slugging it out in the boxing ring.
Ring Of Lies Mon-Thu Mzansi Magic (*161) 19:00
Ring Of Lies isn’t just a soapie filled with deception and dark secrets crawling out the closet – it’s got a powerful theme, explains lead star Bohang Moeko. “Yes, boxing is central to the characters but it’s not ‘just boxing’ – for my character Kabelo, it’s a way of life.” And while Kabelo faces his biggest challenge yet on Wednesday 25 October, “A lot more work goes into this than other shows,” teases Bohang. “Especially when you’ve got a guy like Mpho (Sebeng – Kabelo’s title rival Neo) in the ring with you!”
For the record: are you guys really hitting each other? For sure! When we did season 1 in 2016, we quickly learnt that the only way to make the scenes look real is to “do it” for real. So there’s no WWE “faking”? We rehearse and choreograph in the gym. We have a professional boxing trainer who has coached us since season 1. We talk through the scene, then do a practice session and work out who’s going to move where and do what. Once we’re comfy with it, we film the scenes. Have there been any incidents where actors have got bloody noses? We’re good with that now. [Laughs] I remember hitting a co-star a little too hard back when I didn’t know what I was doing and he was a little winded. But that’s about it. So you’d hold your own in a street fight? [Laughs] I’m not a fighter. I think I’d do okay, but I don’t want to go fighting. And how often do you train? It feels like it is almost daily. We did about five months’ worth for season 1 but we did constant classes to keep in tune. Coming back for season 2, we needed refresher courses just to get back into that mindset and physical routine. So you’re a boxer now? [Laughs] No way. But we’re fully immersed in our scenes.