Zolani putting in the hard yards for Belfast skirmish
BY THE time you are reading this Zolani Tete will probably be on a flight to Northern Ireland via OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg.
He will be en route to Belfast where he will engage in the second defence of his WBO bantamweight crown against Argentinean veteran Omar Narvaez at SSE Arena next weekend.
This week, Tete who has been camping in an excluded spot in East London for nine months welcomed television crew from Box Nation which will air the fight. They followed him around focusing on all the programmes the boxer follow in his daily training routine.
The visuals will be shown in England as part of Tete’s fight marketing and preview.
When Boxing Mecca visited Tete, we found him relaxed but looking a bit bored in a mansion he has been staying in for the past nine months.
“I was about to take a nap after the morning session which included welcoming these TV guys,” he said.
The place looks deserted with Tete and assistant trainer Phumzile Matyhila each having their own separate rooms. “It resembles an initiation hut,” joked manager Mla Tengimfene. “It is as excluded as any we could get and I must say this camp has been exceptional.”
Tete has been camping in Johannesburg for almost all his fights but he changed for this fight under mysterious circumstances.
But he is not complaining about the camp which included a kilometre run at 5.30am before an hour session at the Fitness First under physical trainer Thule Tsesi.
Then it’s an afternoon session at All Winners Club at NU1 Mdantsane with chief trainer Loyiso Mtya and Matyhila.
Sparring sessions have been streaming in all wanting some sessions with the country’s lone world champion.
But his camp eventually decided on reigning SA junior-flyweight champion Bongani Silila and recently dethroned SA junior-bantamweight king Lindile Tshemese.
Tete closed the camp on Tuesday after going some light rounds with Silila.
So far he clocked 130 rounds sparring, which has been the strongest in camp for years.
“For instance in Johannesburg we do not get this kind of sparring,” Tengimfene remarked.
Tengimfene has been amazed by the willingness of local trainers and managers to help out.
“Managers who went out of their way to help us including Ben Mtyaliseko, Phila Mapetla Mzamo, Luyanda Sovasi deserve a special praise. Whatever glory we get in Belfast will also be their glory.”
Tete does not understand why he cannot step in the ring and fight Narvaez as early as now having been on weight for much of the camp.
During the week his handlers even pleaded him to increase the weight after he weighed 55kg – being only 2kg above the limit - when the fight is still two weeks away.
“We want to fight with 55kg meaning we will rehydrate so it was not ideal for Zolani to be in the fighting weight so far ahead.”