Zolani Tete

Zolani Tete
Statistics
Real name Zolani Tete
Nickname(s) Last Born
Weight(s) Flyweight
Super flyweight
Bantamweight
Height 5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Reach 72 in (183 cm)
Nationality South African
Born (1988-03-08) 8 March 1988
Eastern Cape, South Africa
Stance Southpaw
Boxing record
Total fights 31
Wins 28
Wins by KO 21
Losses 3
Draws 0

Zolani Tete (born 8 March 1988 in Eastern Cape, South Africa) is a South African professional boxer based in the UK. He is the current WBO bantamweight champion and the former IBF junior bantamweight champion.

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 World Boxing Federation flyweight title, which he defended twice. Tete earned a shot at a major world title for the first time, beating Richard Garcia on 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.

Junior bantamweight

After the loss to Mthalane, Tete moved up to junior bantamweight. He received another opportunity to fight in an IBF eliminator, but he dropped 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 he 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 super flyweight 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 on round 5, before being dropped himself in round 6. After being knocked down, Tete resorted to excessive holding, losing points in rounds 8 and 9. However, he was able to put Sánchez away in round 10.[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 on 2016. On his third fight at the weight, Tete claimed the WBO interim title by beating Arthur Villanueva. Tete won a wide unanimous decision (120-107, 119-108, 119-108), dropping Villanueva in round 11.[8] Tete was later elevated to full champion by the WBO.[9] Tete defended his title on November 2017, knocking out Siboniso Gonya with a right hook at the beginning of the first round. At 11 seconds, it was the quickest world title fight in history.[10]

Professional boxing record

Professional record summary
31 fights 28 wins 3 losses
By knockout 21 1
By decision 7 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
31 Win 28–3 Russia Mikhail Aloyan UD 12 Oct 13, 2018 Russia Expo Center, Yekaterinburg, Russia Retained WBO bantamweight title;
World Boxing Super Series: bantamweight quarter-final
30 Win 27–3 Argentina Omar Narváez UD 12 April 21, 2018 United Kingdom SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland Retained WBO bantamweight title
29 Win 26–3 South Africa Siboniso Gonya KO 1 (12), 0:11 Nov 18, 2017 United Kingdom SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland Retained WBO bantamweight title
28 Win 25–3 Philippines Arthur Villanueva UD 12 Apr 22, 2017 United Kingdom Leicester Arena, Leicester, England Won WBO interim bantamweight title
27 Win 24–3 Mexico Victor Ruiz TKO 7 (12), 0:50 Jun 4, 2016 United Kingdom Echo Arena, Liverpool, England Won IBF International bantamweight title
26 Win 23–3 Mexico José Santos González TKO 7 (12), 2:37 Mar 12, 2016 United Kingdom Echo Arena, Liverpool, England
25 Win 22–3 Philippines Jether Oliva UD 12 2015-12-19 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Won vacant WBO Africa junior bantamweight title
24 Win 21–3 Mexico Diuhl Olguín TKO 8 (10), 1:52 2015-09-04 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
23 Win 20–3 United Kingdom Paul Butler TKO 8 (12), 1:34 2015-03-06 United Kingdom Echo Arena, Liverpool, England Retained IBF junior bantamweight title
22 Win 19–3 Japan Teiru Kinoshita UD 12 2014-07-18 Japan Portopia Hotel, Kobe, Japan Won vacant IBF junior bantamweight title
21 Win 18–3 Mexico Juan Carlos Sánchez, Jr. KO 10 (12), 2:43 2013-11-30 Mexico Auditorio del Estado, Mexicali, Mexico
20 Win 17–3 Philippines Eduard Penerio KO 1 (8), 2:37 2013-03-23 South Africa Brakpan, South Africa
19 Loss 16–3 Argentina Roberto Sosa SD 12 2012-09-01 Argentina Polideportivo Municipal Carlos Cerutti, Córdoba, Argentina
18 Win 16–2 South Africa Siphiwo Ntsangani KO 1 (8), 0:34 2012-03-30 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
17 Loss 15–2 Mexico Juan Alberto Rosas MD 12 2011-11-26 Mexico Plaza de Toros, Mazatlán, Mexico
16 Win 15–1 South Africa Olebogeng Motseki TKO 7 (8), 2:24 2011-06-11 South Africa Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa
15 Win 14–1 South Africa Sipho Nkadimeng KO 1 (8), 2:20 2010-12-17 South Africa Gompo Hall, East London, South Africa
14 Loss 13–1 South Africa Moruti Mthalane TKO 5 (12), 2:27 2010-09-01 South Africa Carnival City, Brakpan, South Africa For IBF flyweight title
13 Win 13–0 Philippines Richard Garcia UD 12 2010-02-26 South Africa Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa
12 Win 12–0 Tanzania Anthony Mathias KO 1 (12), 2:38 2009-11-20 South Africa Wembley Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa Won vacant WBO Africa flyweight title
11 Win 11–0 Philippines Rexon Flores KO 1 (10), 0:28 2009-03-29 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
10 Win 10–0 Tanzania Francis Miyeyusho TKO 1 (12), 2:24 2008-06-29 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Retained WBF flyweight title
9 Win 9–0 South Africa Xolani Ntese UD 12 2008-03-30 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Retained WBF flyweight title
8 Win 8–0 Indonesia Vicky Tahumil RTD 4 (12) 2007-09-23 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa Won vacant WBF flyweight title
7 Win 7–0 South Africa Wiseman Kega KO 1 (6) 2007-04-01 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
6 Win 6–0 South Africa Vuyo Toyise KO 1 (6), 1:30 2007-03-04 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
5 Win 5–0 South Africa Zukile Toko TKO 5 (6) 2006-12-09 South Africa Mdantsane Indoor Centre, Mdantsane, South Africa
4 Win 4–0 South Africa Mthutuzeli Funde TKO 1 (6), 1:44 2006-10-07 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
3 Win 3–0 South Africa Xolile Ngemntu TKO 1 (6), 0:10 2006-08-19 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
2 Win 2–0 South Africa Thembinkosi Tywantsi TKO 1 (4), 0:52 2006-07-22 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa
1 Win 1–0 South Africa Andile Solani TKO 1 (4), 1:39 2006-05-27 South Africa Orient Theatre, East London, South Africa

See also

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
  10. ↑ https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/4944611/zolani-tete-siboniso-gonya-knock-out/
Sporting positions
World boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Daiki Kameda		 IBF super-flyweight champion
July 18, 2014 - June 2, 2015
Vacated		 Vacant
Title next held by
McJoe Arroyo
Vacant
Title last held by
Alejandro Hernandez		 WBO bantamweight champion
Interim Title
April 22, 2017 - April 23, 2017
Promoted		 Vacant
Preceded by
Marlon Tapales
Stripped		 WBO bantamweight champion
April 23, 2017 - present		 Incumbent
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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