Tete off to Russia with a vengeance
World boxing champion and Mdantsane hero Zolani Tete will depart for Russia on Saturday looking to rewrite the boxing history books by winning the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS).
Tete will begin his quest to win the series which comes with the Muhammad Ali Trophy when he faces Mikhael Aloyan on October 13.
His WBO world bantamweight crown will also be at stake in the fight which is part of three other bouts involving other world champions in the division.
In a public workout at his All Winners Boxing Club in Mdantsane on Thursday, Tete gave glimpses of what he has been working on in preparation for the clash.
“We have clocked eight full weeks of preparation, so I am more than ready,” the champion said.
Showing incredible speed and sharpness, the 30-year-old left-hander said he was not taking the four-fight novice Russian lightly.
“This is like a do-or-die for me. I have sweat and toiled for this fight and now it is time to put it all together.”
Tete will represent the entire African continent in the series, a feat not lost to him.
“It makes me work even harder knowing that the whole African continent will be looking up to me to bring glory,” he said.
The fitness fanatic is already in weight as at 55kg he is just a few kilograms to the bantamweight limit.
“We will simply take it easy to shed the extra grams in Russia but in essence we have done everything here at home,” manager Mla Tengimfene said.
Against Aloyan, Tete will face an opponent with rich amateur pedigree having won world amateur championships twice as well as a silver medal at the Olympic Games.
Aloyan has beaten notable boxers in the amateur ranks many who are now world champions or have held titles including former WBA champion Rau’shee Warren.
For that reason Tengimfene roped in a trainer with wealth of amateur experience to be part of the training camp.
Tete said the tough training he had engaged in would be taken out on Aloyan.
“I’ve been working very hard and Aloyan has to pay for that. It’s not that I’m cross with my trainers, but I’m angry at Aloyan and he’s going to feel my wrath,” said Tete.
However the fact that Aloyan has only fought four times with all his fights taking place in Russia makes it a bit hard to secure his video-footage.
“It has not been easy preparing for him, because we don’t know much about him.
“So we tried to work according to those fights.
If Tete wins this fight, he would get an opportunity to fight in the semifinals of the series against the winner of the Ryan Bennett or Nonito Donaire...
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