Tete camps in Jozi to focus on Villanueva bout
BACKROOM STAFF BEEFED UP TOO
DISTRACTIONS back home in Mdantsane have once again forced popular boxer Zolani “Last Born” Tete to set up a training camp in Johannesburg where he is lesser recognised.
The former IBF junior bantamweight holder is preparing for a WBO bantamweight title eliminator against equally dangerous Filipino opponent Arthur “King Arthur” Villanueva in the UK on April 18.
Villanueva is rated No 1 while Tete is No 2. The winner between these gladiators – both aged 28 – will earn the right to challenge champion Marlon “Marauding Nightmare” Tapales from the Philippines.
Tete and his manager Mlandeli Tengimfene arrived in Johannesburg on Sunday, while trainers Loyiso Mtya and Zolile Tete will only join the camp this coming Sunday.
Retired former SA bantamweight holder Phumzile Matyhila, who is based in Johannesburg, has since joined the team.
Tengimfene, who was crowned the 2016 BSA manager of the year last month, said Tete is using the Urban Warriors gym of Lesley Flavell in Sandton.
Tengimfene announced that Tete has rejoined respected female conditioning trainer Simone Jacobs, who assisted Tete to win eight fights in a row (with six knockouts), including the IBF title fight in Japan three years ago. One of those six knockouts – the eighth-round demolition of Paul Butler in the UK – earned Tete the 2016 BSA knockout punch of the year at the awards in Durban last month.
“People back home love Zolani so much that it is not easy for him to even make road running.
“The higher altitude of Johannesburg also works magic for us and that is why we love camping here,” explained Tengimfene of their Joburg camp.
Tete set up camp in Johannesburg twice before, when he was preparing for the IBF title bout against Teiru Kinoshita in Japan in 2014 and for his defence against Englishman Butler in 2015.
Tete last fought in June when he won the IBF International bantamweight belt in the UK.
He has 20 knockouts from 24 wins, against three losses.
On the other hand, Villanueva, whose last ring appearance was when he captured the WBO Asia Pacific belt in California in September last year, knocked out 16 of his 30 victims. He has only lost once.