Branco urges Tete to take up Arroyo fight

As speculation of Zolani Tete relinquishing his IBF  world junior-bantamweight crown gather steam, his estranged handlers are pleading with him to honour his mandatory defence despite the paltry pay.

The Mdantsane boxer, who is the only pugilist from the province  who holds  a major world  title – and only one of two in the land, together with amateur rival Hekkie Budler – is expected to abdicate  the throne after the outcome of the purse bids held in New Jersey, US on Tuesday evening.

This when only $25 000 (R3.01-million)  was pledged by Golden Boy Promotion in a bid to   win the promotional rights of his mandatory title defence against Puerto Rican challenger,  McJoe Arroyo. The pledge means  Tete will likely earn about R220 000 from the fight excluding travelling, accommodation and tax. This has led to speculation that Tete will rather vacate the title, than risk  it in a high-risk  clash for low reward  against the unbeaten challenger in  foreign territory.

Tete’s former stablemate,  Moruti Mthalane,  opted to dump his IBF flyweight belt in the dustbin rather than travel to Thailand to  face current champion Amnat Ruenroeng for a meagre purse. But Tete’s estranged promoter Branco Milenkovic yesterday advised his charge to go ahead with the fight rather than burn his bridges with the IBF.

Tete and Milenkovic are set to part ways when their contract expires on July 25 after the collapse of their relationship since Tete’s eight-round knockout victory over England challenger,  Paul Butler,  in Liverpool two months ago. Despite the strained relationship, Milenkovic said:   “I will fulfil my promotional duties despite our differences with Tete,” said Milenkovic.

Milenkovic  felt he had done his duty as Tete’s promoter  as he  had chosen to promote him, despite a fifth round stoppage defeat by Mthalane in an IBF flyweight title challenge five years ago.

After the defeat, Tete moved up to the junior-bantamweight division, where Milenkovic steered him towards another title challenge, managing to secure him two elimination fights which he lost.

“Despite that I persevered with him and managed to secure him a third title eliminator which he eventually won leading him to fight and win the IBF title.”

Milenkovic said there were  sinister forces involved in influencing Tete to reject those who had helped him to become world champion. “Tete is a good boy, trust me but I think he listens to everyone because of his good heart but his so-called advisers do not understand how the boxing world works.

“Sometimes you must take a knock before you hit the jackpot and I know this fight will pay him next-to-nothing but I believe that Tete can beat Arroyo and then make the kind of money he wants.” Milenkovic is  embroiled in a bitter court battle with Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula and BSA over the ownership of  television rights.

lIt was incorrectly reported that Tete demanded $300000 (R3.5-million)  to fight Arroyo in last Thursday’s story. Tete actually demanded £300000 (R5.5-million)