Mobile Home | Desktop Version
Who is Zolani Tete?
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 08 Nov 2018
Zolani Tete.
The man whom newly-crowned WBA bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire, Jr. is facing next is a 5-9 South African with a 72-inch wingspan and a long list of victims that includes five Filipinos. Zolani Tete, 30, is the reigning WBO titlist and will take on Donaire in the World Boxing Super Series semifinals sometime next year. The winner of that encounter will advance to battle the survivor of the other semifinal pairing between Japan’s Naoya Inoue and IBF ruler Emmanuel Rodriguez of Puerto Rico for global recognition as the unified champion with the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy as a bonus.
Tete’s record is 28-3, with 21 KOs. Three of his victims who went the distance were Filipinos Arthur Villanueva, Jether Oliva and Richard Garcia. He holds the world record for posting the fastest knockout in championship history, disposing of countryman Siboniso Gonya in only 11 seconds with a right to the head to retain the WBO 118-pound crown last year. Two other first round knockout victims were Filipinos Eduard Penerio and Rexon Flores.
In Tete’s three losses, two were by close decisions, one split and the other majority. His only defeat inside the distance was a stoppage by Donaire victim Moruti Mthalane. He has been floored by Mthalane and Mexico’s Juan Carlos Sanchez. Tete, whose father is a pastor, is known to be a crafty fighter who resorts to devious tricks like holding and butting. He has been docked points in at least three outings.
When Donaire halted Ryan Burnett to wrest the WBA crown in Glasgow last Saturday, a Fil-Scottish fighter would’ve wanted to witness the event. John Thain, whose mother Rizalina Aying is from Mindanao, said he failed to watch the fight because of work. Thain’s late father John, a Scottish sailor in the merchant navy, met his mother while working in the Philippines. The couple moved to Scotland in 1986 and Thain was born a year later in Edinburgh. The six-foot Thain, 31, visited the Philippines as a baby and returned in 2006 to meet relatives in Cebu. Thain’s pro record is 17-4, with 1 KO. He’s a part-time taxi driver.
“I am so pleased that Nonito won the title but I felt bad for Burnett as it was a bad injury,” said Thain. “Nonito is proof that age is just a number. I planned to go to the fights but unfortunately, I couldn’t as I had to work. But I’m training hard.” Last July, he lost a 12-round decision to Nigeria’s Larry Ekundayo for the vacant IBF European welterweight crown in Bethnal Green, England.
Burnett surrendered at the start of the fifth round supposedly because of a back injury. It appeared that he twisted his hip after throwing a right straight that missed in the fourth canto. He was carried out of the ring on a stretcher. But in the hospital, Burnett was given only pain killers and discharged without confinement.
Northern Samar Rep. Raul Daza, former ABAP chairman, said he suspects Burnett suffered a fractured rib cage from Donaire’s body shots. “It could also be an accumulation of punches to the body,” said Daza. “You don’t feel the pain until later so it’s possible Burnett had a delayed reaction to the punishment.”
What impressed Daza wasn’t so much Donaire’s body work but his class act of showing concern for Burnett after the fight was halted. “I’ve been involved in pro and amateur boxing for decades, way before martial law when I managed and promoted fights with Rod Nazario at the Besa Arena,” he said. “As the saying goes, them were the days. Marcelino Dizon was the Araneta matchmaker during that time and Araneta employed an American trainer Dee Dee Armour. In my years in boxing, I’d never seen a fighter displaying so much compassion. He took down the title belt from his shoulder to assist putting Burnett on a stretcher and kept consoling Burnett and his handlers. Donaire didn’t even celebrate his victory.”
Recent PhilBoxing articles:
NOTHING TO FEAR OF PACQUIAO'S EYE INJURY
By Maloney L. Samaco, Tue, 22 Jan 2019Will he or will he not fight Manny?
By Eddie Alinea, Mon, 21 Jan 2019Will he or will he not fight Manny?
By Eddie Alinea, Mon, 21 Jan 2019Results from Vietman: Pulatov Retains WBA Asia 154 Belt, Lesnikov Brutalizes Tamboresi
By Carlos Costa, Mon, 21 Jan 2019Sarangani sets Hero’s Welcome for Senator Pacquiao
By , Mon, 21 Jan 2019Roach says no big deal in taking backseat
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 21 Jan 2019Roach says no big deal in taking backseat
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 21 Jan 2019Manny Pacquiao scores UD win against Adrien Broner in first age-defying fight
By Leo Reyes, Mon, 21 Jan 2019Sniffles no effect on Manny
By Joaquin Henson, Mon, 21 Jan 2019HUMBLE PACQUIAO CONQUERS ARROGANT BRONER
By Maloney L. Samaco, Mon, 21 Jan 2019MANNY PACQUIAO DEFENDS WBA WELTERWEIGHT WORLD TITLE WITH UNANIMOUS DECISION OVER ADRIEN BRONER ON SHOWTIME PPV
By , Sun, 20 Jan 2019At 40, Pacquiao Still Awesome and Fast, Outclasses Broner to Retain WBA World Title
By Carlos Costa, Sun, 20 Jan 2019Pacquiao dominates Broner, retains belt against younger challenger
By Rich Mazon , Sun, 20 Jan 2019PACQUIAO-BRONER UNDERCARD RESULTS
By Eddie Alinea, Sun, 20 Jan 2019MARCUS BROWNE DOMINATES BADOU JACK TO WIN WBA/WBC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 20 Jan 2019
