The relationship between IBF world junior-bantamweight champion Zolani Tete and his promoter Branco Milenkovic has hit rock bottom so much that the pair will go their separate ways in two months time.
This emerged after the outcome of the purse bids of Tete’s IBF junior-bantamweight mandatory title defence against Puerto Rican challenger MacJoe Arroyo.
The purse bids were held in New Jersey, US on Tuesday evening (SA time) with US promoter Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) pledging only $25 000 (about R296000) to win the promotional rights of the fight.
GBP, owned by legendary Oscar de la Hoya, was the only bidder, avoiding a more catastrophic situation of forcing the IBF to strip Tete after the absence of bidders in the first auction called two weeks back.
The $25000 pledge by GBP means that Tete will likely be paid a paltry R220000 which excludes his travelling and accommodation costs as well as tax as per purse bids procedure.
This has led to rife speculations that Tete will relinquish the title rather than travelling either to US or Puerto Rico where the fight will likely be held.
GBP has 90 days to announce the fight date and venue.
Ironically another former Milenkovic- promoted boxer Moruti Mthalane found himself in a similar predicament and opted to renounce his IBF flyweight crown rather than travelling to Thailand for a meagre payday a while back.
The developments are the latest in the strife between Tete and Milenokivic since the Mdantsane boxer’s title defence in Liverpool, UK where he knocked out English challenger Paul Butler in eight rounds two months ago.
The contract between the pair is set to expire on July 25 and Milenkovic has indicated that he will not renew it.
This after Tete allegedly failed to honour meetings to discuss the renewal.
“Since Tete returned from England we have not spoken,” Milenkovic revealed.
“I arranged several meetings with him and his manager but he failed to honour them.”
Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene, whose own relationship with the boxer and his older brother Makazole is also on the rocks, confirmed that Zolani offered all sorts of excuses not to honour the meetings.
The developments are a sequence to a public promise by Eastern Cape department of sport, recreation, arts and culture (DSRAC) MEC Pemmy Majodina at Tete’s arrival from England in March that she would back the boxer to defend his title at home.
Majodina even proposed a June 16 date at Fort Hare University but it later transpired that she had jumped the gun by not following her department policy of funding major world title fights.
Milenkovic is now accusing DSRAC of making public promise but could not back them when the purse bids were called.
“I expected those who made big promises to honour them especially during the purse bids.”
Asked why he did not participate in the purse bids, Milenkovic said Tete had demanded $300 000 to fight Arroyo arguing that he had been made a similar offer by several promoters after his impressive performance against Butler.
“I told him that I could not afford that much but as the purse bids are opened to every promoter maybe someone would bid that amount. I am surprised no one participated in the bids even those promoters from your province who poached him.”
Tete walks tightrope with Branco set to cut his ties
This emerged after the outcome of the purse bids of Tete’s IBF junior-bantamweight mandatory title defence against Puerto Rican challenger MacJoe Arroyo.
The purse bids were held in New Jersey, US on Tuesday evening (SA time) with US promoter Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) pledging only $25 000 (about R296000) to win the promotional rights of the fight.
GBP, owned by legendary Oscar de la Hoya, was the only bidder, avoiding a more catastrophic situation of forcing the IBF to strip Tete after the absence of bidders in the first auction called two weeks back.
The $25000 pledge by GBP means that Tete will likely be paid a paltry R220000 which excludes his travelling and accommodation costs as well as tax as per purse bids procedure.
This has led to rife speculations that Tete will relinquish the title rather than travelling either to US or Puerto Rico where the fight will likely be held.
GBP has 90 days to announce the fight date and venue.
Ironically another former Milenkovic- promoted boxer Moruti Mthalane found himself in a similar predicament and opted to renounce his IBF flyweight crown rather than travelling to Thailand for a meagre payday a while back.
The developments are the latest in the strife between Tete and Milenokivic since the Mdantsane boxer’s title defence in Liverpool, UK where he knocked out English challenger Paul Butler in eight rounds two months ago.
The contract between the pair is set to expire on July 25 and Milenkovic has indicated that he will not renew it.
This after Tete allegedly failed to honour meetings to discuss the renewal.
“Since Tete returned from England we have not spoken,” Milenkovic revealed.
“I arranged several meetings with him and his manager but he failed to honour them.”
Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene, whose own relationship with the boxer and his older brother Makazole is also on the rocks, confirmed that Zolani offered all sorts of excuses not to honour the meetings.
The developments are a sequence to a public promise by Eastern Cape department of sport, recreation, arts and culture (DSRAC) MEC Pemmy Majodina at Tete’s arrival from England in March that she would back the boxer to defend his title at home.
Majodina even proposed a June 16 date at Fort Hare University but it later transpired that she had jumped the gun by not following her department policy of funding major world title fights.
Milenkovic is now accusing DSRAC of making public promise but could not back them when the purse bids were called.
“I expected those who made big promises to honour them especially during the purse bids.”
Asked why he did not participate in the purse bids, Milenkovic said Tete had demanded $300 000 to fight Arroyo arguing that he had been made a similar offer by several promoters after his impressive performance against Butler.
“I told him that I could not afford that much but as the purse bids are opened to every promoter maybe someone would bid that amount. I am surprised no one participated in the bids even those promoters from your province who poached him.”
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