Zolani Tete

Zolani Tete (born 8 March 1988) is a South African professional boxer. He is a former two-weight world champion, having held the IBF junior-bantamweight title from 2014 to 2015 and the WBO bantamweight title from 2017 to November 2019.

Zolani Tete
Statistics
Real nameZolani Tete
Nickname(s)Last Born
Weight(s)
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Reach72 in (183 cm)
NationalitySouth African
Born (1988-03-08) 8 March 1988
Eastern Cape, South Africa
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights32
Wins28
Wins by KO21
Losses4

Early life and amateur career

Tete grew up in the Mdantsane township. He had a rough childhood. His father was a pastor. Him and his brother, Makazole, took up boxing when Zolani was eight. Tete looked up to South African former world champions Vuyani Bungu and Welcome Ncita while in the unpaid ranks. Tete would later be trained by Bungu. He claims to have over 400 amateur fights, only three of which were losses.[1]

Professional career

Flyweight

Tete made his professional debut on May 2006. He won his first 8 fights by stoppage. In his eighth bout he won the WBF flyweight title, which he defended twice. Tete earned a shot at a major world title for the first time, beating Richard Garcia in a title eliminator by unanimous decision (118-108, 118-108, 118-110).[2] Tete went on to face Moruti Mthalane for the IBF flyweight title, suffering his first loss with a round 5 technical knockout (TKO).

Junior bantamweight

After the loss to Mthalane, Tete moved up to junior-bantamweight. He received another opportunity to fight in an IBF eliminator, but lost a majority decision (112–115, 112–115, 113–113) to Juan Alberto Rosas. After a bounce-back win, Tete fought in yet another eliminator but lost by split decision (113–115, 114–115, 115–114) to Roberto Sosa. Tete seem to befuddle Sosa with his length early on, but as the fight went on Sosa surged and earned the nod. Sosa received a warning due to low blows but there was no point deductions.[3]

On November 2013, Tete would fight in a third IBF junior-bantamweight eliminator against former champion Juan Carlos Sánchez, Jr.. Sánchez had lost the IBF title due to coming in overweight against Sosa, thus leaving the title vacant after beating Sosa. The winner would be the IBF's mandatory challenger to the winner of the Liborio Solís-Daiki Kameda unification bout. Tete knocked down Sánchez in round five before being dropped himself in round six. After being knocked down, Tete resorted to excessive holding, losing points in rounds eight and nine. However, he was able to put Sánchez away in round ten.[4]

Solís would beat Kameda, but he also lost his title on the scales, leaving the IBF title vacant. Tete would face Teiru Kinoshita on July 2014 for the vacant title, winning a comfortable unanimous decision (119–109, 119–109, 118–110).[5] After one successful defence, he chose to vacate the title rather than fight mandatory challenger McJoe Arroyo.[6] Tete went on to sign with British promoter Frank Warren on December 2015.[7]

Bantamweight

Tete made his bantamweight debut in 2016. In his third fight at the weight, Tete claimed the WBO interim by beating Arthur Villanueva. Tete won a wide unanimous decision (120–107, 119–108, 119–108), dropping Villanueva in round eleven.[8] Tete was later elevated to full champion by the WBO.[9]

Professional boxing record
Professional record summary
32 fights 28 wins 4 losses
By knockout 21 2
By decision 7 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
32 Loss 28–4 John Riel Casimero TKO 3 (12), 2:14 30 Nov 2019 Birmingham Arena, Birmingham, United Kingdom Lost WBO bantamweight title
31 Win 28–3 Mikhail Aloyan UD 12 13 Oct 2018 Expo Center, Yekaterinburg, Russia Retained WBO bantamweight title;
World Boxing Super Series: Bantamweight quarter-final
30 Win 27–3 Omar Narváez UD 12 21 Apr 2018 SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland Retained WBO bantamweight title
29 Win 26–3 Siboniso Gonya TKO 1 (12), 0:11 18 Nov 2017 SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland Retained WBO bantamweight title
28 Win 25–3 Arthur Villanueva UD 12 22 Apr 2017 Leicester Arena, Leicester, England Won WBO interim bantamweight title
27 Win 24–3 Victor Ruiz TKO 7 (12), 0:50 4 Jun 2016 Echo Arena, Liverpool, England Won IBF International bantamweight title
26 Win 23–3 José Santos González TKO 7 (12), 2:37 12 Mar 2016 Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
25 Win 22–3 Jether Oliva UD 12 19 Dec 2015 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Won vacant WBO Africa junior-bantamweight title
24 Win 21–3 Diuhl Olguín TKO 8 (10), 1:52 4 Sep 2015 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
23 Win 20–3 Paul Butler TKO 8 (12), 1:34 6 Mar 2015 Echo Arena, Liverpool, England Retained IBF junior-bantamweight title
22 Win 19–3 Teiru Kinoshita UD 12 18 Jul 2014 Portopia Hotel, Kobe, Japan Won vacant IBF junior-bantamweight title
21 Win 18–3 Juan Carlos Sánchez Jr. KO 10 (12), 2:43 30 Nov 2013 Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Mexico
20 Win 17–3 Eduard Penerio KO 1 (8), 2:37 23 Mar 2013 Brakpan, South Africa
19 Loss 16–3 Roberto Sosa SD 12 1 Sep 2012 Polideportivo Municipal Carlos Cerutti, Córdoba, Argentina
18 Win 16–2 Siphiwo Ntsangani KO 1 (8), 0:34 30 Mar 2012 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
17 Loss 15–2 Juan Alberto Rosas MD 12 26 Nov 2011 Plaza de Toros, Mazatlán, Mexico
16 Win 15–1 Olebogeng Motseki TKO 7 (8), 2:24 11 Jun 2011 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
15 Win 14–1 Sipho Nkadimeng KO 1 (8), 2:20 17 Dec 2010 Gompo Hall, East London, South Africa
14 Loss 13–1 Moruti Mthalane TKO 5 (12), 2:27 1 Sep 2010 Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa For IBF flyweight title
13 Win 13–0 Richard Garcia UD 12 26 Feb 2010 Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Win 12–0 Anthony Mathias KO 1 (12), 2:38 20 Nov 2009 Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Won vacant WBO Africa flyweight title
11 Win 11–0 Rexon Flores KO 1 (10), 0:28 29 Mar 2009 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
10 Win 10–0 Francis Miyeyusho TKO 1 (12), 2:24 29 Jun 2008 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Retained WBF flyweight title
9 Win 9–0 Xolani Ntese UD 12 30 Mar 2008 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Retained WBF flyweight title
8 Win 8–0 Vicky Tahumil RTD 4 (12) 23 Sep 2007 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Won vacant WBF flyweight title
7 Win 7–0 Wiseman Kega KO 1 (6) 1 Apr 2007 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
6 Win 6–0 Vuyo Toyise KO 1 (6), 1:30 4 Mar 2007 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
5 Win 5–0 Zukile Toko TKO 5 (6) 9 Dec 2006 Mdantsane Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South Africa
4 Win 4–0 Mthutuzeli Funde TKO 1 (6), 1:44 7 Oct 2006 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
3 Win 3–0 Xolile Ngemntu TKO 1 (6), 0:10 19 Aug 2006 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
2 Win 2–0 Thembinkosi Tywantsi TKO 1 (4), 0:52 22 Jul 2006 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
1 Win 1–0 Andile Solani TKO 1 (4), 1:39 27 May 2006 Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
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See also
  • List of super-flyweight boxing champions
  • List of bantamweight boxing champions

References
  1. https://www.frankwarren.com/zolani-tete-as-fans-leave-the-echo-arena-itll-be-my-name-on-their-mouths/
  2. http://www.boxingscene.com/zolani-tete-decisions-richard-garcia-ibf-eliminator--25684
  3. http://www.boxingscene.com/roberto-sosa-rides-late-surge-win-over-zolani-tete--56631
  4. http://www.boxingscene.com/zolani-tete-stops-juan-carlos-sanchez-ten--72241
  5. https://www.japantimes.co.jp/sports/2014/07/18/more-sports/boxing-2/kinoshita-falls-to-tete-in-title-bout/
  6. "McJoe Arroyo to face Arthur Villanueva for vacant IBF super flyweight belt". Fightnews.com. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
  7. http://www.boxnation.com/boxing-news/zolani-tete-signs-with-frank-warren/
  8. https://www.rappler.com/sports/by-sport/boxing-mma/167687-arthur-villanueva-zolani-tete-recap
  9. http://www.boxingscene.com/zolani-tete-now-elevated-full-wbo-bantamweight-champion--116001
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Daiki Kameda		 IBF junior-bantamweight champion
18 July 2014 - 2 June and 2015
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
McJoe Arroyo
Vacant
Title last held by
Alejandro Hernandez		 WBO bantamweight champion
Interim Title
22 April 2017 - 23 April 2017
Promoted		 Vacant
Title next held by
Johnriel Casimero
Vacant
Title last held by
Marlon Tapales
Stripped		 WBO bantamweight champion
23 April 2017 - 30 November 2019		 Succeeded by
Johnriel Casimero
Records
Preceded by
Daniel Jiménez vs. Harald Geier
17 seconds		 Fastest knockout in a title bout
11 seconds vs. Siboniso Gonya
November 18, 2017 - present		 Incumbent
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