The popularity of Mdantsane boxer Zolani Tete in England will have major spin offs for the disadvantaged boxing clubs in Mdantsane after an English journalist confirmed that he had set up a foundation to collect boxing equipment for disadvantaged gymnasiums in the township.
Tete has fought in England twice; on both occasions scoring impressive knockout victories over previously undefeated English star Paul Butler and Mexican Jose Santos Gonzalez respectively.
His first clash against Butler, who was looking to make British boxing history by becoming the second boxer in over 100 years to win a world title in a heavier division, was in March last year.
But Tete shattered his dreams when he scored an eight round knockout to retain his IBF world junior bantamweight crown.
The win influenced top British promoter Frank Warren to sign him into a multi-fight contract of which the clash against Gonzalez was the first, a few weeks ago.
Touched by his rags-to-riches story when Tete revealed that he would buy a prosthetic leg for his diabetic mother with his fight earnings, British journalist Gareth A Davies set up a foundation to collect old boxing equipment to donate to Tete’s gymnasium in Mdantsane.
The equipment which Davies – a correspondent for The Telegraph– is busy collecting, will also be distributed to other needy boxing clubs in Mdantsane.
Speaking to Daily Dispatch, Davies said he was touched by Tete’s talent as well as his determination to beat poverty to become a world champion.
“I believe there are many other Zolani Tetes in Mdantsane and surrounding areas but they have not yet been fortunate to get the break as yet,” Davies said.
Indeed Mdantsane and Duncan Village is littered by boxing clubs housed in dilapidated buildings, making it impossible to train during rainy days.
Dispatch ran a story about the dire conditions current IBO lightweight champion Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni was training under in Duncan Village before leaving to join state-of-the art gymnasium belonging to Colin Nathan in Johannesburg.
The paper also exposed the poor training conditions faced by SA female featherweight champion Asandiswa Nxokwana at Leaches Bay informal settlement where a big tractor trye is used to build conditioning.
When told about the plight of the boxers, Davies said he would do everything in his power to ensure that the gymnasiums benefit from the equipment he is collecting.
Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene, who engineered for his charge to ink a promotional pact with Warren, could not contain his delight at the news.
“Every time we go there to fight we do plenty of soliciting help for those disadvantaged back home and the generosity of Gareth cannot be put into words,” he said.
Davies said he planned to come down to Mdantsane by June just after Tete’s WBA interim bantamweight title clash against Kazaskhstani native Zhanat Zhayikinov, which has now been set for June 4 at Echo Arena in Liverpool.
British journo to help needy after Tete’s impressive fights
Tete has fought in England twice; on both occasions scoring impressive knockout victories over previously undefeated English star Paul Butler and Mexican Jose Santos Gonzalez respectively.
His first clash against Butler, who was looking to make British boxing history by becoming the second boxer in over 100 years to win a world title in a heavier division, was in March last year.
But Tete shattered his dreams when he scored an eight round knockout to retain his IBF world junior bantamweight crown.
The win influenced top British promoter Frank Warren to sign him into a multi-fight contract of which the clash against Gonzalez was the first, a few weeks ago.
Touched by his rags-to-riches story when Tete revealed that he would buy a prosthetic leg for his diabetic mother with his fight earnings, British journalist Gareth A Davies set up a foundation to collect old boxing equipment to donate to Tete’s gymnasium in Mdantsane.
The equipment which Davies – a correspondent for The Telegraph– is busy collecting, will also be distributed to other needy boxing clubs in Mdantsane.
Speaking to Daily Dispatch, Davies said he was touched by Tete’s talent as well as his determination to beat poverty to become a world champion.
“I believe there are many other Zolani Tetes in Mdantsane and surrounding areas but they have not yet been fortunate to get the break as yet,” Davies said.
Indeed Mdantsane and Duncan Village is littered by boxing clubs housed in dilapidated buildings, making it impossible to train during rainy days.
Dispatch ran a story about the dire conditions current IBO lightweight champion Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni was training under in Duncan Village before leaving to join state-of-the art gymnasium belonging to Colin Nathan in Johannesburg.
The paper also exposed the poor training conditions faced by SA female featherweight champion Asandiswa Nxokwana at Leaches Bay informal settlement where a big tractor trye is used to build conditioning.
When told about the plight of the boxers, Davies said he would do everything in his power to ensure that the gymnasiums benefit from the equipment he is collecting.
Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene, who engineered for his charge to ink a promotional pact with Warren, could not contain his delight at the news.
“Every time we go there to fight we do plenty of soliciting help for those disadvantaged back home and the generosity of Gareth cannot be put into words,” he said.
Davies said he planned to come down to Mdantsane by June just after Tete’s WBA interim bantamweight title clash against Kazaskhstani native Zhanat Zhayikinov, which has now been set for June 4 at Echo Arena in Liverpool.
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