While some boxers spend the better part of their fight preparations reducing weight, Zolani Tete is actually trying to increase his ahead of his WBO world bantamweight title eliminator.
Tete will face Filipino Arthur Villaneuva in the Manchester Arena in England on April 8.
A win will put him on the path towards a world title shot against another Filipino, Marlon Tapales.
So serious is Tete taking the fight that long before he started camp in Johannesburg yesterday, he was already close to fighting weight, sparking concerns from his management.
The 28-year-old was 57kg when he began preparations with assistant trainers Phumzile Matyhila and Mhikiza Myekeni. Chief trainer Loyiso Mtya will join the camp this coming weekend.
But manager Mla Tengimfene wants Tete to put on more weight.
“Zolani is one of those few boxers who need to be monitored in training so that he does not overdo it,” Tengimfene said yesterday from Johannesburg.
“For instance his weight is too low right now because of his excessive training and we need to increase it.”
Indeed Tete is already just two divisions heavier than the bantamweight in which the fight will be contested. This although there is still over a month to go to the fight.
Incredibly some fighters often enter the fight week still two divisions heavier than the actual fighting weight.
Tengimfene said he wanted Tete to weigh around 59kg and only cut down closer to the fight. “We want to rehydrate back to 59kg after the weigh-in so it is imperative that we stay at this weight to maximise our power and strength.”
Tete has already lined up sparring partners such as Tshifhiwa Munyai and Mxolisi Nombewu with more expected to join the camp when the sessions start.
Since vacating his IBF junior-bantamweight title, Tete has been desperate to land his hands on another belt.
However, other champions in the division avoided him like the plague, with the latest, Rau-shee Warren, opting to instead defend against Zhanat Zhakiyanov who relieved him of his WBA crown.
Zhakiyanov was also once mentioned as a possible opponent for Tete but the Kazakhstani pleaded ignorance of the scheduled fight, going as far as accusing the Dispatch of marketing Tete at his expense.
Tengimfene said the net was closing in on other champions in the division and once Tete laid his hands on the WBO crown there would be nowhere for them to hide.
“They will be forced to come on board when we are also world champions,” he said.
There are already plans for Tete to move up a division to challenge Cuban WBA king Guillermo Rigondeaux who enjoys cordial relations with his English promoter Frank Warren.
“All those fights are in the pipeline but one step at a time.”
Tete has not lost a fight in five years since suffering a dubious points loss to Argentinean Roberto Domingo Sosa whose gift decision never accomplished him anything on the world scene.
Tete on quest to tip scales in his favour
Tete will face Filipino Arthur Villaneuva in the Manchester Arena in England on April 8.
A win will put him on the path towards a world title shot against another Filipino, Marlon Tapales.
So serious is Tete taking the fight that long before he started camp in Johannesburg yesterday, he was already close to fighting weight, sparking concerns from his management.
The 28-year-old was 57kg when he began preparations with assistant trainers Phumzile Matyhila and Mhikiza Myekeni. Chief trainer Loyiso Mtya will join the camp this coming weekend.
But manager Mla Tengimfene wants Tete to put on more weight.
“Zolani is one of those few boxers who need to be monitored in training so that he does not overdo it,” Tengimfene said yesterday from Johannesburg.
“For instance his weight is too low right now because of his excessive training and we need to increase it.”
Indeed Tete is already just two divisions heavier than the bantamweight in which the fight will be contested. This although there is still over a month to go to the fight.
Incredibly some fighters often enter the fight week still two divisions heavier than the actual fighting weight.
Tengimfene said he wanted Tete to weigh around 59kg and only cut down closer to the fight. “We want to rehydrate back to 59kg after the weigh-in so it is imperative that we stay at this weight to maximise our power and strength.”
Tete has already lined up sparring partners such as Tshifhiwa Munyai and Mxolisi Nombewu with more expected to join the camp when the sessions start.
Since vacating his IBF junior-bantamweight title, Tete has been desperate to land his hands on another belt.
However, other champions in the division avoided him like the plague, with the latest, Rau-shee Warren, opting to instead defend against Zhanat Zhakiyanov who relieved him of his WBA crown.
Zhakiyanov was also once mentioned as a possible opponent for Tete but the Kazakhstani pleaded ignorance of the scheduled fight, going as far as accusing the Dispatch of marketing Tete at his expense.
Tengimfene said the net was closing in on other champions in the division and once Tete laid his hands on the WBO crown there would be nowhere for them to hide.
“They will be forced to come on board when we are also world champions,” he said.
There are already plans for Tete to move up a division to challenge Cuban WBA king Guillermo Rigondeaux who enjoys cordial relations with his English promoter Frank Warren.
“All those fights are in the pipeline but one step at a time.”
Tete has not lost a fight in five years since suffering a dubious points loss to Argentinean Roberto Domingo Sosa whose gift decision never accomplished him anything on the world scene.
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