BOXING MECCA: Last Born is his pride and joy

Rarely does an active boxer form his own boxing promotion company – but that is exactly what Mdantsane boxer Zolani Tete has done after he recently set up Last Born Promotions.

Tete’s promotion company will jointly organise his world title fight with Sijuta Promotions on September 6 in East London.

By forming his own company, Tete joins elite boxers like Floyd Mayweather Jr, whose promotion firm organises his own fights – making him the richest athlete in the world.

Other well-known boxers with promotion interests, include Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, as well as Oscar de la Hoya – although the latter has since retired.

In SA however, no active boxer has ever fought under his own promotion company. Like Floyd Mayweather Promotions, Last Born Promotions has not yet acquired a promoters’ licence and will therefore organise under an already established promotions company – hence the partnership with Sijuta under Andile Sidinile.

On Monday Sidinile was among the promoters who submitted a proposal to the provincial department of sport, recreation, arts and culture, where they put in a tender to organise world title fights in the province in conjunction with Last Born Promotions.

Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene, said a decision to form the promotions company had been taken in a bid to advance the career of the southpaw, who is a former IBF world junior-bantamweight champion.

“We are looking at Zolani’s welfare and his growth as a sportsman and decided that he needs to take this decision to look at his own future,” he said. Tete is still contracted to Johannesburg promoter Branco Milenkovic with their pact ending on July 21.

The two parties have already indicated that the contract will not be renewed, but it is understood that Milenkovic is feeling betrayed by the latest developments – especially because of the involvement of his former ally-turned-enemy, Sidinile, in the deal.

However, there are plans for Tete to join Golden Gloves Promotion (GGP) under Rodney Berman, who has several networks abroad – including a deal to organise fights in Monaco.

Tengimfene admitted that preliminary talks have commenced with Berman but no deal has been reached as yet.

While Tete and his promotions company will continue organising fights when fighting in East London, the plan is for Berman to promote Tete when the East London star fights internationally.

Tete has done justice to his world-class tag after his blistering eight-round knockout defeat of previously unbeaten English star, Paul Butler, in defence of his IBF crown in March.

“We need someone who will keep Zolani at international level hence we are talking to Rodney who has a deal in Monaco,” said Tengimfene.

Tete recently dumped his IBF crown in the dustbin after he was forced to travel to Puerto Rico for a paltry payday against McJoe Arroyo.

The 26-year-old is now pursuing a world title shot with another world body.

It is yet to be established if his brother, Makazole, will also join the promotions interests, but he is currently operating under Xaba Promotions which has done a sterling job in moving him up the international ladder.