There is still sceptism out there on whether Zolani Tete is good enough to hang with the best in the talent laden junior-bantamweight division.
His clash against unbeaten British star Paul Butler at Echo Arena in Liverpool, UK tonight, will go a long way in dispelling that perception.
Tete will risk his IBF crown he won in Japan when he inflicted the first professional loss on Teiru Kinoshita last July.
The left-hander, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Sunday, was considered too soft to be a boxer especially after his fifth round stoppage defeat by Moruti Mthalane in 2010. But the soft-spoken boxer has since toughened up by consistently fighting abroad where he has been a victim of hometown decisions twice to take his losses to three in 22 bouts.
As they say experience makes one wiser, Tete learnt that he had to take matters into his own hands as he proved against Mexican Juan Carlos Sanchez against whom he entered as an underdog.
Sanchez was the former holder of the title and only lost it on the scales. But Tete was unfazed as he entered the Mexican den and engaged in war with the local boy, emerging a winner by a 10th-round stoppage in a mild upset.
“Tete is used to fighting in his opponents’ backyards so facing Butler who will be cheered on by his home crowd will be nothing new to him,” said Tete’s promoter Branco Milenkovic.
Tete is a living proof of boxing lore that says a true champion fights everywhere. Should he get past Butler, Tete may be required to dust off his passport again and travel abroad for his mandatory title defence against Puerto Rican MacJoe Arroyo.
With SABC blackout of boxing coverage still ongoing, Tete is unlikely to benefit from being cheered on by his supporters but this is making him even stronger as a champion.
But fortunately his fans will be able to watch him against Butler as the fight has been picked up by SuperSport which will air it on SS7 at 11.30pm.
“We are ready for Butler and Zolani cannot wait to get into the ring,” said the boxer’s manager Mla Tengimfene from Liverpool where they have been for more than 10 days.
With his brother Makazole being left behind as he has his own fight coming, Zolani understands of the task of keeping the Tete name flying after Makazole’s recent performance in the ring.
“This is the year of the Tete brothers and Zolani understand that he cannot drop the ball now,” said Tengimfene.
Both boxers made the weight at yesterday’s weigh-in by scaling 51.95kg.
Tete may be too hot to handle for Butler
His clash against unbeaten British star Paul Butler at Echo Arena in Liverpool, UK tonight, will go a long way in dispelling that perception.
Tete will risk his IBF crown he won in Japan when he inflicted the first professional loss on Teiru Kinoshita last July.
The left-hander, who will celebrate his 27th birthday on Sunday, was considered too soft to be a boxer especially after his fifth round stoppage defeat by Moruti Mthalane in 2010. But the soft-spoken boxer has since toughened up by consistently fighting abroad where he has been a victim of hometown decisions twice to take his losses to three in 22 bouts.
As they say experience makes one wiser, Tete learnt that he had to take matters into his own hands as he proved against Mexican Juan Carlos Sanchez against whom he entered as an underdog.
Sanchez was the former holder of the title and only lost it on the scales. But Tete was unfazed as he entered the Mexican den and engaged in war with the local boy, emerging a winner by a 10th-round stoppage in a mild upset.
“Tete is used to fighting in his opponents’ backyards so facing Butler who will be cheered on by his home crowd will be nothing new to him,” said Tete’s promoter Branco Milenkovic.
Tete is a living proof of boxing lore that says a true champion fights everywhere. Should he get past Butler, Tete may be required to dust off his passport again and travel abroad for his mandatory title defence against Puerto Rican MacJoe Arroyo.
With SABC blackout of boxing coverage still ongoing, Tete is unlikely to benefit from being cheered on by his supporters but this is making him even stronger as a champion.
But fortunately his fans will be able to watch him against Butler as the fight has been picked up by SuperSport which will air it on SS7 at 11.30pm.
“We are ready for Butler and Zolani cannot wait to get into the ring,” said the boxer’s manager Mla Tengimfene from Liverpool where they have been for more than 10 days.
With his brother Makazole being left behind as he has his own fight coming, Zolani understands of the task of keeping the Tete name flying after Makazole’s recent performance in the ring.
“This is the year of the Tete brothers and Zolani understand that he cannot drop the ball now,” said Tengimfene.
Both boxers made the weight at yesterday’s weigh-in by scaling 51.95kg.
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