Zolani feels his pick was real Super pot-luck
THE country’s lone boxer at the groundbreaking World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) Zolani Tete returned from the historic draw held in Moscow last weekend.
Tete surprisingly drew little known Russian Mikhail Aloyan for the bantamweight series starting in September.
He was gracious to sit down and share his thoughts about the draw.
BOXING MECCA: Nomzet, you took us all by surprise by drawing Aloyan when everyone expected you to pick Juan Carlos Payano.
ZOLANI TETE: I also surprised myself, because going there I was also going to pick Payano. But things happened at the last minute when Ryan Burnett was thrust as the first seed and I had to move to the third. So he had the first pick and he went for Nonito Donaire. Inoue (Naoya) went for Payano and because Emmanuel Rodriguez and Jason Moloney had a predetermined manda- tory title clash it was only Aloyan left, so I had to take him.
BM: But tell us Nomzet. How was this draw conducted? Did a boxer simply physically go and pick an opponent like it was the case in the Contender Series way back, or did they put your names in the hat and the first one to come out would then draw from the second hat?
ZT: No my bra. You had to physically select your opponent right there like in the Contender. This was the perfect description of what we call here at home ukunyola(voluntary choice of a challenger).
BM: Now tell us how other boxers appeared to feel about the WBSS.
ZT: Every boxer appeared to be motivated for this series, and I could see in their eyes that each and every one of them wants to win it.
BM: You took several photos with Inoue. How is this kid in person? Does he display the same demeanour he shows in his fights?
ZT: Actually Inoue is a bit more reserved than he is the ring. And he is shorter. That is one aspect I think surprised them about me. They did not know that I am way taller than him.
BM: Tell us about your Russian opponent.
ZT: One thing I can tell you is that I would quit boxing right after the fight if I were to lose to that kid. There is no way in hell that he could beat me even on my worst day.
BM: Wow Nomzet, I have not seen this fire in you when talking about an upcoming fight since before the Gonya bout, and we all know what happened to that fight (Tete set a new world record when knocking out Gonya in 11 seconds). Does Aloyan carry such a reputation in Russian boxing?
ZT: Actually even the Russians seem to be surprised that he made it into the WBSS. He has rich amateur career but even at that he is not such a big name.
BM: If that is the case why did Inoue and Burnett not pick him when they first selected their opponent before you did?
ZT: I really do not know my bra. Maybe they wanted big names in the first fight, but whatever reasons they had for avoiding Aloyan I do not care. I will simply do my job. Like I said I also would not have chosen him had I had a first pick, not because he is dangerous of anything but he is not a well-known boxer.
BM: OK Nomzet, when will you go to camp?
ZT: By next week we should start hitting it because September is here.
You had to physically select your opponent