TETE LANDS IN RUSSIA FOR WEEKEND SHOWDOWN
World champion is strong contender to battle his way to finals of the World Boxing Super Series after his arch-rival Inoue has already booked a semifinal slot
World boxing champ Mdantsane-born Zolani Tete arrived in Russia at the weekend brimming with confidence of making short work of Mikhael Aloyan in their clash on Saturday.
While Tete and his entourage touched down in Ekatarinenburg, Russia, his rival Naoya Inoue was destroying Juan Carlos Payano to book his spot in the semifinals of the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS).
Inoue and Tete are favourites to go all the way to the finals of the series and after blasting Payano in 70 seconds in Japan the Japanese has done his own share of the job. The onus is now on Tete to do likewise to Aloyan whom he faces in Ekatarinenburg on Saturday.
The 30-year-old WBO bantamweight champion was accompanied by his chief trainer Loyiso Mtya, assistant Mhikiza Myekeni and manager Mla Tengimfene. Surprisingly Tete’s father Zolile was not part of the entourage.
This was unusual as Zolile or Zolani’s brother, Makazole, are often part of the team. Tengimfene said the organisers of the fight only sent five tickets with the fifth one reserved for cutman Andrew O’Neill who will fly from Scotland.
“We know Zolani’s family member often accompanies him to his big fights but in this instance we decided to sacrifice and instead bring in a cutman,” he said from Russia.
The quick demolition job by Inoue of Payano has now inspired Tete to do likewise against Aloyan who will come to the bout with a four-fight novice record.
Like Inoue, Tete is used to scoring quickfire knockouts as he did when he needed just 11 seconds to destroy Siboniso Gonya in defence of his WBO crown in April this year.
“We are not in the game of comparing ourselves to Inoue but people know that Zolani is also capable of knocking out opponents in the first round,” Tengimfene added.
Tete will engage in a public workout on Wednesday at Academy of Martial Arts before a press conference on Thursday at Hyatt Regency where he is staying.
On its arrival in Russia, the Tete team bumped into top US trainer Floyd Mayweather senior whose boxer will also fight in the Tete-Aloyan show.
Tete had already started negotiations for Mayweather snr to train him for the series but shelved them when it transpired that he would instead face Aloyan.
Asked if he would reopen negotiations with Mayweather snr, Tengimfene said: “Absolutely.”