Eastern Cape’s remaining major world boxing champion Zolani Tete has vacated his IBF junior-bantamweight belt with immediate effect.
The NU12 Mdantsane boxer dropped the bombshell just less than two months before being expected to defend his crown against McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico.
Tete’s renouncement of the crown comes as no surprise given the purse bids over the promotional rights to the fight last month.
Top US promotions company Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) won the auction with a paltry bid of $25000 (about R305000) to which Tete is entitled 75%.
However after deductions, including tax, the 27-year-old would take home about R71000.
This is nowhere near what he was paid after knocking out previously unbeaten British star Paul Butler in eight rounds in Liverpool this past March. Despite making a voluntary defence, the southpaw was reportedly paid R500000.
While he was expecting a cut in prize-money in the fight against the unbeaten Puerto Rican, the meagre purse is low even by South African title standards.
Tete’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene said after a lengthy discussion he and the boxer had resolved to relinquish the belt. “We looked at the pros and cons and came to an agreement that vacating the belt was the best way,” he said.
While the camp had expected a low purse against Arroyo, travelling to Puerto Rico just four days before the fight contributing to the decision not to go.
Tete would have been required to spend about 40 hours travelling from SA to New York where he would take a connecting flight to Puerto Rico. “We do not even know how long it takes to fly to Puerto Rico so we could have well arrived just a day before the fight,’’ Tengimfene added.
Mindful of what happened to fellow Eastern Cape boxer Simpiwe Nongqayi who is coincidentally the former holder of the very same crown when he spent a night in police cells while trying to catch a connecting flight to Mexico, Tete felt the risks involved far outweigh the reward. He is still riding the crest of the wave following his stunning victory over Butler.
“We could have easily lost by a knockout there due to all the circumstances surrounding this fight and all the hardwork we have done would go down the drain. We decided to rather protect our reputation and plot another route.”
Tete becomes the fourth boxer promoted by Branco Milenkovic to relinquish a world title in such circumstances.
The first was fellow Mdantsane female boxer Noni Tenge who was stripped of her IBF welterweight title, followed by another EC-born fighter, Mzonke Fana, who was also relieved of his IBF junior-bantamweight belt. KwaZulu-Natal boxer Moruti Mthalane also opted to drop his IBF flyweight belt rather than travel to Thailand for a paltry payday.
Tete’s contract with Milenkovic is set to expire at the end of next month and the two parties have already indicated it will not be renewed.
The IBF has already mandated Arroyo face third-ranked Filipino Arthur Villanueva for the vacant crown with the fight tentatively set for July 18 possibly in the US.
Tete thumbs nose at IBF title
The NU12 Mdantsane boxer dropped the bombshell just less than two months before being expected to defend his crown against McJoe Arroyo of Puerto Rico.
Tete’s renouncement of the crown comes as no surprise given the purse bids over the promotional rights to the fight last month.
Top US promotions company Golden Boy Promotions (GBP) won the auction with a paltry bid of $25000 (about R305000) to which Tete is entitled 75%.
However after deductions, including tax, the 27-year-old would take home about R71000.
This is nowhere near what he was paid after knocking out previously unbeaten British star Paul Butler in eight rounds in Liverpool this past March. Despite making a voluntary defence, the southpaw was reportedly paid R500000.
While he was expecting a cut in prize-money in the fight against the unbeaten Puerto Rican, the meagre purse is low even by South African title standards.
Tete’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene said after a lengthy discussion he and the boxer had resolved to relinquish the belt. “We looked at the pros and cons and came to an agreement that vacating the belt was the best way,” he said.
While the camp had expected a low purse against Arroyo, travelling to Puerto Rico just four days before the fight contributing to the decision not to go.
Tete would have been required to spend about 40 hours travelling from SA to New York where he would take a connecting flight to Puerto Rico. “We do not even know how long it takes to fly to Puerto Rico so we could have well arrived just a day before the fight,’’ Tengimfene added.
Mindful of what happened to fellow Eastern Cape boxer Simpiwe Nongqayi who is coincidentally the former holder of the very same crown when he spent a night in police cells while trying to catch a connecting flight to Mexico, Tete felt the risks involved far outweigh the reward. He is still riding the crest of the wave following his stunning victory over Butler.
“We could have easily lost by a knockout there due to all the circumstances surrounding this fight and all the hardwork we have done would go down the drain. We decided to rather protect our reputation and plot another route.”
Tete becomes the fourth boxer promoted by Branco Milenkovic to relinquish a world title in such circumstances.
The first was fellow Mdantsane female boxer Noni Tenge who was stripped of her IBF welterweight title, followed by another EC-born fighter, Mzonke Fana, who was also relieved of his IBF junior-bantamweight belt. KwaZulu-Natal boxer Moruti Mthalane also opted to drop his IBF flyweight belt rather than travel to Thailand for a paltry payday.
Tete’s contract with Milenkovic is set to expire at the end of next month and the two parties have already indicated it will not be renewed.
The IBF has already mandated Arroyo face third-ranked Filipino Arthur Villanueva for the vacant crown with the fight tentatively set for July 18 possibly in the US.
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