Concerns regarding Zolani Tete’s injury have been put to rest by his team, paving the way for the Mdantsane boxer to participate in the vaunted bantamweight series.
Tete suffered a hand injury in his dominant points win over Argentinean veteran Omar Narvaez in Belfast a fortnight ago.
The win afforded him a second successful defence of his WBO bantamweight crown.
But the win appeared to have cost him dearly when the defence-minded Argentinean managed to inflict him with an injury after Tete hit his elbows since Narvaez covered up for most of the fight.
The injury scare forced Tete to visit a doctor for X-rays which all came back negative.
His manager Mla Tengimfene said the doctor advised the boxer to rest and the injury would heal itself.
“The X-rays did not pick up anything on the bone so at least it is nothing serious,” he said.
Had the injury been on the bone, Tete would have been required to sit out a longer period jeopardising his participation in the planned Bantamweight Super Eight Series.
While no date has been confirmed for the series, boxers have already been contacted, including Tete.
WBA champion Ryan Burnett, who Tete has been chasing for a unification clash, has already reportedly been confirmed.
Tengimfene said Tete’s official confirmation was still subject to ongoing discussion regarding the financial aspect of the deal.
Other boxers targeted for the series include Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue who at one stage was mentioned as a possible Tete foe.
But Inoue will have to officially book his place with a win over Jamie McDonnell in Japan on May 25.
Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux as well as the winner of the IBF title clash between Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez and Englishman Paul Butler will also be eligible.
Dominican Republican Juan Carlos Payano is also reportedly targeted.
The rest of the series will be filled by mandatory title challengers.
Tete will likely be one of the favourites to win the series, having won a world title in the junior-bantamweight division.
He is also considered a big bantamweight with a decided height and reach advantage against any champion in the division.
But as he hit the 30-year mark, he has become vulnerable to injuries having also strained a calf muscle before his clash against Narvaez.
Thumbs up as Tete hand injury not so bad after all
Tete suffered a hand injury in his dominant points win over Argentinean veteran Omar Narvaez in Belfast a fortnight ago.
The win afforded him a second successful defence of his WBO bantamweight crown.
But the win appeared to have cost him dearly when the defence-minded Argentinean managed to inflict him with an injury after Tete hit his elbows since Narvaez covered up for most of the fight.
The injury scare forced Tete to visit a doctor for X-rays which all came back negative.
His manager Mla Tengimfene said the doctor advised the boxer to rest and the injury would heal itself.
“The X-rays did not pick up anything on the bone so at least it is nothing serious,” he said.
Had the injury been on the bone, Tete would have been required to sit out a longer period jeopardising his participation in the planned Bantamweight Super Eight Series.
While no date has been confirmed for the series, boxers have already been contacted, including Tete.
WBA champion Ryan Burnett, who Tete has been chasing for a unification clash, has already reportedly been confirmed.
Tengimfene said Tete’s official confirmation was still subject to ongoing discussion regarding the financial aspect of the deal.
Other boxers targeted for the series include Japanese sensation Naoya Inoue who at one stage was mentioned as a possible Tete foe.
But Inoue will have to officially book his place with a win over Jamie McDonnell in Japan on May 25.
Cuban Guillermo Rigondeaux as well as the winner of the IBF title clash between Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez and Englishman Paul Butler will also be eligible.
Dominican Republican Juan Carlos Payano is also reportedly targeted.
The rest of the series will be filled by mandatory title challengers.
Tete will likely be one of the favourites to win the series, having won a world title in the junior-bantamweight division.
He is also considered a big bantamweight with a decided height and reach advantage against any champion in the division.
But as he hit the 30-year mark, he has become vulnerable to injuries having also strained a calf muscle before his clash against Narvaez.
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