Zolani Tete jets off to England tomorrow afternoon where he will engage in his third fight in his adopted home when he takes on Mexican Victor Ruiz at Echo Arena in Liverpool next Saturday.
The Mdantsane southpaw has been preparing for the fight in Johannesburg using the home of former Premier Soccer League (PSL) boss Andile “Ace” Ncobo as his base.
Having gotten over the disappointment of the withdrawal of WBA world bantamweight interim champion Zhanat Zhakiyanov who was initially tabbed as an opponent, Tete is now focusing his attention on the Mexican as he bids to win a second world title.
In camp he was working with chief trainer Loyiso Mtya, the boxer’s father Zolile and former SA bantamweight champion Phumzile Matyhila.
Matyhila will however not be part of the trip due to business commitments leaving manager Mla Tengimfene to fill up the SA entourage.
Tete, 28, is vying for a second world title after he relinquished his IBF crown in the lighter junior-bantamweight division due to unfavourable terms of his mandatory title defence against Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo, who has since ascended the throne.
Having won all his UK bouts by knockouts, Tete is looking to leave yet another lasting impression in the land of the Queen.
The IBF international bantamweight belt that he will risk against Ruiz is helping him to encroach towards another world title shot.
But Tete is not putting his eggs in one basket as he is also eyeing a showdown with another British world champion Jamie McDonnell who holds the regular version of the WBA.
“I want any world champion in my division including Jamie McDonnell,” said Tete.
He is also targeting IBF champion Lee Haskins, who is also another UK-based world champion, and his win over Ruiz may bring that fight closer to fruition.
Tengimfene said he was satisfied with the work Tete has put in training ahead of the fight.
“As you know the name of Zolani’s opponent was not immediately announced after the Zhakiyanov debacle but we stuck to basic preparations,” he said.
Ruiz comes to the fight with a rather deceptive record of five losses in 26 bouts but he has been enjoying a three fights winning streak including a big upset over Japanese Daiki Kameda who is Tete’s IBF world champion predecessor.
A southpaw like “Last Born”, the Mexican can also bang confirmed by his 15 stoppages in 21 wins.
But it is Tete who will enter the bout as the bigger puncher of the two as he has iced 19 of his 23 victim with just three losses, two of them highly debatable.
‘Last Born’ set to take UK by storm
The Mdantsane southpaw has been preparing for the fight in Johannesburg using the home of former Premier Soccer League (PSL) boss Andile “Ace” Ncobo as his base.
Having gotten over the disappointment of the withdrawal of WBA world bantamweight interim champion Zhanat Zhakiyanov who was initially tabbed as an opponent, Tete is now focusing his attention on the Mexican as he bids to win a second world title.
In camp he was working with chief trainer Loyiso Mtya, the boxer’s father Zolile and former SA bantamweight champion Phumzile Matyhila.
Matyhila will however not be part of the trip due to business commitments leaving manager Mla Tengimfene to fill up the SA entourage.
Tete, 28, is vying for a second world title after he relinquished his IBF crown in the lighter junior-bantamweight division due to unfavourable terms of his mandatory title defence against Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo, who has since ascended the throne.
Having won all his UK bouts by knockouts, Tete is looking to leave yet another lasting impression in the land of the Queen.
The IBF international bantamweight belt that he will risk against Ruiz is helping him to encroach towards another world title shot.
But Tete is not putting his eggs in one basket as he is also eyeing a showdown with another British world champion Jamie McDonnell who holds the regular version of the WBA.
“I want any world champion in my division including Jamie McDonnell,” said Tete.
He is also targeting IBF champion Lee Haskins, who is also another UK-based world champion, and his win over Ruiz may bring that fight closer to fruition.
Tengimfene said he was satisfied with the work Tete has put in training ahead of the fight.
“As you know the name of Zolani’s opponent was not immediately announced after the Zhakiyanov debacle but we stuck to basic preparations,” he said.
Ruiz comes to the fight with a rather deceptive record of five losses in 26 bouts but he has been enjoying a three fights winning streak including a big upset over Japanese Daiki Kameda who is Tete’s IBF world champion predecessor.
A southpaw like “Last Born”, the Mexican can also bang confirmed by his 15 stoppages in 21 wins.
But it is Tete who will enter the bout as the bigger puncher of the two as he has iced 19 of his 23 victim with just three losses, two of them highly debatable.
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