Zolani Tete eyes a Fall return
With the finals of the WBSS bantamweight match-up set to happen later on this year between Naoya Inoue and Nonito Donaire, the buried name among the bantamweight landscape is current WBO 118lb champion Zolani Tete.
Tete (28-3, 21 KO’s) was originally a part of the WBSS bantamweight tournament and set to face Donaire in the semifinals on April 27th in Lafayette, Louisiana. However, Tete had to be sidelined two days before the fight due to a shoulder injury.
It was certainly a missed opportunity. Now back on the mend, the champion stated he plans to return to the ring this Fall. He will return with a goal to prove he is the true top dog in the division. Tete spoke with The Ring on his plans.
“The injury is healing very well and I’ve started training already. I believe I’ll be back in the ring in September or October, I have a very good doctor and he wouldn’t say I could fight if there was something he was unsure about.”
“I believe my manager (Mlandeli Tengimfene) is in talks with (promoter) Frank Warren right now, and whatever they bring to the table, I’ll be ready for it. I want the big fights. I’ll be happy with a title defense or a unification, and I believe the fight will take place in the U.K.”
“I want to face the Inoue-Donaire winner, and there’s also Luis Nery. I saw both his fights against Shinsuke Yamanaka and I would love to fight him. He’s number one with the WBC and if he wins that title, then I hope we get the chance to fight. I want to have big fights and that’s what keeps me motivated in boxing. I’m looking forward to the best against the best.”
It’s imperative for Tete to return to the ring as quickly as he can. With the finals of the WBSS happening and Naoya Inoue making such a splash on the boxing world over the last couple of years, Tete is at risk of being a forgotten player among the smaller weight fighters.
Truthfully, Tete looked far from spectacular in his two recent wins over Omar Narvaez and Mikhail Aloyan. The momentum the South African world champion had gained up to that point has all but evaporated.
When it comes to the lower-weight divisions, Zolani Tete is one of the best fighters around. The time for Tete is now to once again re-establish himself as one worthy of paying serious attention to.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
