A highly-anticipated clash will finally play out, when Mdantsane boxing star Makazole Tete moves up to junior-bantamweight to take on a former title-holder for the IBO crown in East London on December 11.
The fight will headline a Xaba Promotions and Events (XPE) show which will feature other intriguing yet-to-be-confirmed bouts.
However, the Tete-Gideon Buthelezi clash has been signed, sealed and delivered after Lwandile Sityatha vacated the crown to move up a division.
Coincidentally, Sityatha’s last fight was against Buthelezi, when he escaped with a debatable split decision to retain his crown at the ICC in East London in July.
Most ringsiders felt Buthelezi was victim of a hometown decision as he appeared to have done enough to steal the verdict.
Buthelezi subsequently lodged a protest with the IBO regarding the outcome, but the US-based world body could not reach a conclusion.
After taking a warm-up fight where he got the better of Free Stater, Doctor Ntsele, to pick up the WBA Pan junior-bantamweight crown, Buthelezi will now get an opportunity to regain the title he formerly held, before losing it to Filipino Edrin Dapudong, who was later dethroned by Sityatha.
However Tete, 29, who will fight in the junior-bantamweight division for the first time feels Buthelezi will fall short again.
“It is unfortunate that Buthelezi gets this opportunity against me because this means he will return home empty-handed again,” the unbeaten star said.
“There is no way that he can beat me and winning this belt will be a step towards fulfilling my dream of holding a world title together with my younger brother (Zolani Tete, who is also on the verge of getting a world title shot in the same division).”
Zolani is universally considered as the best boxer in the land, despite relinquishing his IBF crown in April ahead of his title defence against Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo due to unfavourable fight conditions.
While Buthelezi, who is a southpaw, is fresh from a victory over Ntsele, Makazole does not see anything special in that achievement, as he also beat Ntsele to claim the WBA Pan-African flyweight title.
In fact, Makazole feels he beat a stronger Ntsele before the wear and tear had set in.
And the Mdantsane boxer whose love for choral music far surpasses that of boxing, says he will be stronger contender in the junior-bantamweight division.
Makazole has struggled to impress in his last two bouts due to weight problems. “I feel stronger here and people will see the old Makazole,” he promised.
The disciplined boxer has already started camp for the fight, putting in hard work at Dowie Mzini’s gymnasium.
With his brother, Zolani, also campaigning in the division, Makazole will not be short of sparring sessions especially as his sibling is also a southpaw – like Buthelezi.
“There is no doubt that this title is remaining in Mdantsane and I will use it as a Christmas present to the Tete family.”
The Tetes are still enjoying the fact that their mother has finally Nomonde received a prosthetic leg, and if Makazole brings home a world title, it will crown a good year for them.
Payback time high in the air
The fight will headline a Xaba Promotions and Events (XPE) show which will feature other intriguing yet-to-be-confirmed bouts.
However, the Tete-Gideon Buthelezi clash has been signed, sealed and delivered after Lwandile Sityatha vacated the crown to move up a division.
Coincidentally, Sityatha’s last fight was against Buthelezi, when he escaped with a debatable split decision to retain his crown at the ICC in East London in July.
Most ringsiders felt Buthelezi was victim of a hometown decision as he appeared to have done enough to steal the verdict.
Buthelezi subsequently lodged a protest with the IBO regarding the outcome, but the US-based world body could not reach a conclusion.
After taking a warm-up fight where he got the better of Free Stater, Doctor Ntsele, to pick up the WBA Pan junior-bantamweight crown, Buthelezi will now get an opportunity to regain the title he formerly held, before losing it to Filipino Edrin Dapudong, who was later dethroned by Sityatha.
However Tete, 29, who will fight in the junior-bantamweight division for the first time feels Buthelezi will fall short again.
“It is unfortunate that Buthelezi gets this opportunity against me because this means he will return home empty-handed again,” the unbeaten star said.
“There is no way that he can beat me and winning this belt will be a step towards fulfilling my dream of holding a world title together with my younger brother (Zolani Tete, who is also on the verge of getting a world title shot in the same division).”
Zolani is universally considered as the best boxer in the land, despite relinquishing his IBF crown in April ahead of his title defence against Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo due to unfavourable fight conditions.
While Buthelezi, who is a southpaw, is fresh from a victory over Ntsele, Makazole does not see anything special in that achievement, as he also beat Ntsele to claim the WBA Pan-African flyweight title.
In fact, Makazole feels he beat a stronger Ntsele before the wear and tear had set in.
And the Mdantsane boxer whose love for choral music far surpasses that of boxing, says he will be stronger contender in the junior-bantamweight division.
Makazole has struggled to impress in his last two bouts due to weight problems. “I feel stronger here and people will see the old Makazole,” he promised.
The disciplined boxer has already started camp for the fight, putting in hard work at Dowie Mzini’s gymnasium.
With his brother, Zolani, also campaigning in the division, Makazole will not be short of sparring sessions especially as his sibling is also a southpaw – like Buthelezi.
“There is no doubt that this title is remaining in Mdantsane and I will use it as a Christmas present to the Tete family.”
The Tetes are still enjoying the fact that their mother has finally Nomonde received a prosthetic leg, and if Makazole brings home a world title, it will crown a good year for them.
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