Tete’s IBF title chance

WHAT seemed a bad omen for Zolani Tete, when he twice fell ill on the eve of his SA junior-bantamweight title challenge, has suddenly turned out to be a blessing in disguise after the Mdantsane fighter was been pencilled in to fight for the world title in Mexico next month.

Tete will face Mexican Juan Carlos Sanchez for the vacant IBF junior-bantamweight crown in a double-header also featuring Mexicans Hernan Marquez and Giovanni Segura at Centro de Usos Multiples (CUM) in Hermosillo, Sonora on November 2.

A press conference to officially announce the fight is scheduled to take place in Mexico today.

However the news of Tete’s world title challenge took his promoter Branco Milenkovic by surprise when the Daily Dispatch asked him for comment.

But Tete said he had already been hinted that he might get a world title opportunity although no details were given.

And when the Dispatch informed him that the fight has been confirmed, the left-handed fighter screamed in delight.

“God is great and He has answered my prayers,” said Tete.

Tete has every reason to be emotional about getting the opportunity to fight for a major world title after twice having to withdraw from a fight against Duncan Village boxer Unathi Gqokoma for the SA junior-bantamweight title due to mysterious illnesses.

First he suffered what appeared to be a mild stroke just days before the fight in July.

He felt dizzy just before a morning run and collapsed and was rushed to hospital where doctors said he was dehydrated.

The fight was rescheduled for September 22 and again on the week of the fight he took ill and was thus forced to to pull out again.

While Boxing SA confirmed that Tete was indeed sick with an illness unrelated to the first one, rumours started circulating that he was running scared of Gqokoma.

“I heard those rumours and they hurt me badly but you cannot stop people from speaking,” Tete said yesterday.

Now just when his boxing career looked bleak after BSA declared that another boxer would be appointed to face Gqokoma for the vacant title, Tete’s ‘gods’ have suddenly smiled on him.

“God does things for a reason and while I did not know why I kept suffering bad luck just before the fight now I see what He was planning for me,” he said.

Tete says he has been in training since recovering from the illness.

“Fortunately I know Sanchez as I have watched some of his fights and he does not scare me at all,” he says.

Tete has had bad in luck in IBF sanctioned fights, losing a highly debatable split decision to Juan Alberto Rosas in an IBF title eliminator in Mexico in 2011 and again being victim of a perceived hometown decision in Argentina against local fighter Roberto Sosa for another elimination bout in September last year.

“I am more matured now and I know what to do to beat a Mexican so believe me this title is coming home,” he quipped.

With just three losses – the other coming at the hands of current IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane – in 20 bouts, Tete is at the prime of his career even though he is just 24 years old.

The title has been relinquished by Japanese Daiki Kameda who has moved up to bantamweight, paving a way for Tete and Sanchez who are rated third and fourth respectively with first and second spots vacant, to battle it out.