Female Fight Clubs FTW

Lesego Magosi and Aneesha Mayman know how to land punches and take them, too. Here’s why they fight – and how you can get involved

- Celeste Jacobs

‘I walk taller now’ Lesego Magosi, 34

‘I started boxing two years ago. I train with men and women, and my personal trainer is a guy. Men and women aren’t separated at the gym – you just train with the boys. When we do sparring exercises with guys, they’re not going to hit you hard and you’re not going to either. There’s a balance.

‘I started following female boxers on Instagram and noticed the way they present themselves. When they’re throwing punches, they exude a certain type of confidence. There’s masculinity there, but it’s also very feminine. There’s something feminist about doing these kinds of sports because you’re taking up spaces that are usually associated with masculinity.

I didn’t do much sport. Now, my energy levels have skyrocketed and I’m much healthier. You just feel and look better – everything works. I’m a lot more confident. I walk taller. It sounds clichéd, but it’s true. It makes me feel as though I can do more with myself, with my body. I feel sharper in my mind – because boxing is a mental thing, too.