OLIVA, SAULONG LOSE ONE-SIDED DECISIONS IN REGIONAL TITLE FIGHT IN SOUTH AFRICA
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 20 Dec 2015
Tete.
Filipino super flyweight Jether Oliva has lost to former IBF super flyweight champion Zolani Tete by a twelve round shutout decision while Ernesto Saulong also lost by a wide margin to former IBO bantamweight champion Lwandile Sithyatha at the Orient Theater in East London, South Africa last S aturday.
With the win the 23 year old Tete who improved his record to 23-3 with 18 knockouts continued his quest for another world title beating Oliva with two judges scoring it 120-107 and the third judge 120-108 all in favor of Tete who won the vacant WBO South Africa super flyweight title with the 28 year old Oliva dropping to 23-5-2 with 11 knockouts.
However, reporter Mesuli Zifo said Tete ?paid dearly for the win as he aggravated his shoulder and hand injury? which he had suffered during training but decided not to postpone the mottle fight..
Zolani relinquished his IBF title after scoring an 8th round stoppage of previously unbeaten Paul Butler in Manchester last April and emphasized in a post-fight interview after beating Oliva that he was hungry for championship glory once more.
The South African refused to defend his title against Puerto Rico?s McJoe Arroyo because of what Tete claimed were unfavorable terms with Golden Boy Promotions posting a mere $25,000 in the purse bid f or the fight.
It was Tete?s second fight after he relinquished his world title having earlier beating stopped Mexican Diuhl Olguin in eight rounds Last September.
However, Zifo reported that Oliva ?proved to be a tougher customer than expected as he absorbed damaging blows throughout and only went down in the fourth round.? Tete said he ?pulled his punches for fear of aggravating his injury.?
Tete paid tribute to Oliva s aying ?I give Jether props for hanging in there despite the beating I dished out. He is made of sterner stuff and he is the mind of opponent I wanted to get rounds under my belt as I am chasing a world title shot.?
Meantime another Filipino Ernesto Saulong was beaten handily by former IBO super flyweight champion Lwandile Sithyatha and won the vacant WBO International bantamweight title with a with another one-sided win over Saulong with scores of 118-109 on the sc irecards of two judges with the third turning in a 119-109 tally.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.
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