Tete steels himself for Super Series
THE draw for the money-spinning bantamweight World Boxing Super Series will take place in Germany in July, with seeded boxers choosing their opponents from a pot of unseeded rivals, Zolani “Last Born” Tete’s manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene said.
The confirmed world beaters in the roster for the eight-man tourney are Tete (WBO bantamweight champion), Ryan Burnett of Northern Ireland (WBA champion)‚ Puerto Rican Emmanuel Rodriguez (IBF title holder) and Naoya Inoue of Japan‚ WBO junior bantamweight champion.
Inoue will make his bantamweight debut on May 25 against Jamie McDonnell‚ and must come out on top to gain entrance into the money-spinning series.
Tengimfene manages every aspect of Tete’s career.
The manager, whose negotiation skills saw top British boxing promoter Frank Warren sign Tete in 2015, said: ‘‘The trick is if Zolani is seeded No 1‚ he will choose first.
“There are bonuses. If you happen to fight a UK boxer‚ the purse monies are different for winning bonuses. It’s going to be interesting.”
Tengimfene‚ who retained Boxing South Africa’s manager of the year award in January‚ said: ‘‘The first quarterfinal will be in September/October, the second in January/February, and the finals in May/June next year.
“Zolani will not be in any fight between now and September.
“He cannot falter. Our attitude now is that we take it one fight at a time‚ put it aside and focus in the next.
“We cannot underestimate any of the boxers who will be there, but [what] will work in our favour is Zolani’s constant fighting outside South Africa. Fighting in Mexico‚ the UK and Japan has turned [his] nerves to steel.”
Tete is trained by his father, Zolile‚ Loyiso Mtya and Phumzile Matyhila. – TimesLIVE