THE proposed IBF world junior-bantamweight title clash between Mdantsane’s Zolani Tete and Teiru Kinoshita of Japan initially scheduled for East London on May 18 is off.
Tete will now be forced to travel to Japan to take on Kinoshita on July 18.
This was confirmed by all the parties involved with Johannesburg promoter Branco Milenkovic, who promotes Tete, taking a swipe at Andile Sidinile who had promised to stage the fight under his Sijuta Promotions banner in East London.
Milenkovic argued that he never reached an agreement with Sidinile to hold the fight in East London.
“I was surprised when I read your story about the fight taking place in East London because we never reached a deal with Sidinile,” said Milenkovic.
However both parties admitted that they held discussions for the fight to be held in East London but no paperwork was signed.
While the negotiations were continuing the April 20 deadline the IBF had given both camps to settle promotional rights of the fight had come and gone.
When both camps did not submit documents indicated that they had reached an agreement, the IBF decided to schedule purse bids for Thursday this week.
However Milenkovic and Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene decided to accept the terms from Kinoshita camp and go to Japan.
Milenkovic blasted Sidinile for using Tete to coerce money from the provincial government.
“I am sick and tired of Eastern Cape promoters using my name as well as my boxers to get money from their government,” Milenkovic charged.
Sidinile refused to comment on the allegations besides confirming that the fight was indeed off.
Sidinile had arranged the fight in order to earn the bid for the SABC-TV boxing broadcast relaunch.
Tengimfene admitted that he would have loved for Tete to fight in front of his people but going to Japan was not a train-smash.
“Other boxers like Welcome Ncita had to travel abroad in order to win world titles so why not us?”
Tete earned the right to challenge for the title when he scored a stunning 10th round stoppage defeat of Mexican hero Juan Carlos Sanchez last November.
Since his win he has been waiting patiently for his opportunity until then champion Daiki Kameda of Japan finally abdicating the throne due to weight struggle.
While Tete will fight in Japan for the first time, Tengimfene expressed confidence of returning home with the belt.
“This will be the fourth time Tete challenges for this title and he does not win it now it will probably be over for him,” he said.
“What is more motivating for us is that the fight will be held on the day of the late Nelson Mandela and that cannot be more inspiring for us to win this belt.”
Kinoshita is unbeaten in 19 bouts with a draw while Tete has suffered three losses, two of them in controversial circumstances, in 21 bouts.
New twist to Tete’s title fight
Tete will now be forced to travel to Japan to take on Kinoshita on July 18.
This was confirmed by all the parties involved with Johannesburg promoter Branco Milenkovic, who promotes Tete, taking a swipe at Andile Sidinile who had promised to stage the fight under his Sijuta Promotions banner in East London.
Milenkovic argued that he never reached an agreement with Sidinile to hold the fight in East London.
“I was surprised when I read your story about the fight taking place in East London because we never reached a deal with Sidinile,” said Milenkovic.
However both parties admitted that they held discussions for the fight to be held in East London but no paperwork was signed.
While the negotiations were continuing the April 20 deadline the IBF had given both camps to settle promotional rights of the fight had come and gone.
When both camps did not submit documents indicated that they had reached an agreement, the IBF decided to schedule purse bids for Thursday this week.
However Milenkovic and Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene decided to accept the terms from Kinoshita camp and go to Japan.
Milenkovic blasted Sidinile for using Tete to coerce money from the provincial government.
“I am sick and tired of Eastern Cape promoters using my name as well as my boxers to get money from their government,” Milenkovic charged.
Sidinile refused to comment on the allegations besides confirming that the fight was indeed off.
Sidinile had arranged the fight in order to earn the bid for the SABC-TV boxing broadcast relaunch.
Tengimfene admitted that he would have loved for Tete to fight in front of his people but going to Japan was not a train-smash.
“Other boxers like Welcome Ncita had to travel abroad in order to win world titles so why not us?”
Tete earned the right to challenge for the title when he scored a stunning 10th round stoppage defeat of Mexican hero Juan Carlos Sanchez last November.
Since his win he has been waiting patiently for his opportunity until then champion Daiki Kameda of Japan finally abdicating the throne due to weight struggle.
While Tete will fight in Japan for the first time, Tengimfene expressed confidence of returning home with the belt.
“This will be the fourth time Tete challenges for this title and he does not win it now it will probably be over for him,” he said.
“What is more motivating for us is that the fight will be held on the day of the late Nelson Mandela and that cannot be more inspiring for us to win this belt.”
Kinoshita is unbeaten in 19 bouts with a draw while Tete has suffered three losses, two of them in controversial circumstances, in 21 bouts.
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