Zolani delays Makazole bout to fine tune preparations
THE need to keep the Tete name hogging headlines for the right reasons has forced Zolani to postpone the bout involving his brother Makazole scheduled for this Saturday by two weeks.
The decision by Zolani follows his feat of breaking a world record for the fastest knockout in a world championship fight when he knocked out Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds to retain his WBO world bantamweight crown in Belfast a fortnight ago.
Since the record breaking achievement, the Tete name has been bandied about in the world boxing scene as it is being associated with success.
The euphoria comes when Zolani’s elder brother Makazole is preparing for a ring return which can best be described as moment of redemption.
He will face Tanzanian Selemani Bangaiza in a bantamweight bout.
Makazole, who has been in camp with his sibling in Johannesburg, has returned to his brother’s club All Winners and reunited with manager Mla Tengimfene.
This after he parted ways with Xaba Promotions and Events after a series of below par performances including a near tragic knockout defeat at the hands of Filipino Jonas Sultan last December.
And Zolani understands that getting his sibling into the best shape will be crucial in his redemption mission.
“This is why we have decided to postpone the tournament from this Saturday to December 16,” confirmed Tengimfene.
Tengimfene said Zolani wanted to be go back to the camp in Johannesburg to help Makazole intensify his preparations.
“Zolani feels that the fact that he has been away when he went to Belfast for his fight against Gonya robbed him a few precious moments to monitor Makazole’s preparations.
“Now he will go back to camp to personally ensure that Makazole is in the best of his life.”
Zolani wanted to use the launch of LBP for his fight against Gonya.
But he could not secure funding to organise the fight at home resulting to it to be held in Belfast to set an ignominious history of becoming the first ever fight between two SA boxers in a foreign soil.
Now he wants it to be an event to remember with his brother leaving an indelible mark to signal his return to former glory that saw him winning several titles including the SA flyweight crown.
“Zolani wants this tournament to leave people talking due to Makazole’s performance,” said Tengimfene
The show will also see the return of sensational female champion Sharodeen Fortuin making her debut under All Winners club.