Fresh from his latest bout, professional boxer and schoolteacher Gerhard “The Teacher” Thysse is pleased with the progress he’s made and appreciative of the experience that comes with every fight.

The balancing act between life in and out of the ring he says is made possible through discipline, faith and hard work.

Thysse competed against Jonathan Sam from Zaki’s New Life Fitness Gym in Alberton on November 8 in Pretoria, securing victory with a unanimous decision.

He told the Springs Advertiser that he was happy with how the fight went, saying he stuck to his plan and stayed composed. With an impressive record of 4-0-0, Thysse said there is always room to grow but he remains proud of his performance.

“My game plan was to keep a high work rate, stay off the ropes, counter effectively and control the pace and it worked well for most of the fight,” he said.

“During the fight my thoughts were that I’ve trained too hard to quit. Six rounds, I just leave it all in the ring. I can rest tomorrow.”

Thysse described his opponent as tough, strong and heavy-handed, which forced him to dig deep and stay sharp.

When he’s not in the ring, Thysse is in the classroom teaching at Hoërskool Hugenote. Balancing both worlds he said comes down to discipline and routine.

He starts his day at 04:00 to train, prepares lessons for his learners and fits in another session in the afternoon.

“Training is part of my lifestyle. It keeps me balanced, happy and ready for any fight that comes,” he said.

Thysse teaches Afrikaans to Grade Nine learners and Tourism to Grade Twelve learners. Many of his learners know about his boxing career and respect it, with some even sharing their own sporting journeys with him.

“Being in the ring has influenced how I approach teaching. Boxing teaches discipline, patience and accountability, the same values I try to build in my learners,” said Thysse.

He often tells his learners that when you start something you must give it your all and never do things halfway.

Thysse began his boxing journey at Bert Collins Boxing Club under the guidance of head coach Jeanette Dyzel. He credits the club for building his foundation of discipline, passion and self-drive.

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He also acknowledged that his biggest influence comes from everyone actively involved in his career, including his wife, family and coaches past and present who continue to support him.

Thysse expressed gratitude to his sponsors Infohrm, Trips4u Abnormal Load Escorts and Allout Fitness Centre for believing in him and making his journey possible.

Looking ahead, “The Teacher” is focused on continuous improvement and working toward fighting for the South African title.

His advice to anyone trying to balance sport and education: “Stay disciplined, manage your time and trust the process. You can do both, just don’t give up when it gets tough.”

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