Tete backing for Inoue has his reasons

THE camp of local world bantamweight champion Zolani Tete will be rooting for Japanese star Naoya Inoue to beat Jamie McDonnell when they clash at the Tokyo Dome Hotel today.

But McDonnell’s win will boost the financal earning of Tete as there are bonuses for fighting a UK-based boxer.

Inoue will be chasing his third world crown when he challenges Englishman McDonnell’s WBA crown in a bout he is favoured to win.

The winner has already confirmed participation in the World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) of which Tete has already confirmed his involvement.

Tete, who holds the WBO crown, WBA super champion Ryan Burnett of Northern Ireland, and newly minted IBF king Manny Rodriguez were unveiled as confirmed participants for the series scheduled to punch off in September.

The trio have already been seeded with the winner of Inoue and McDonnell set to earn the fourth seed.

And Inoue is already listed as one of the favourites to win the series and the accompanying Mohammed Ali Trophy although his fight against McDonnell will be his first in the bantamweight division after winning titles in the junior-flyweight and junior-bantamweight divisions.

The Japanese commands a big reputation as probably the best fighter in the small divisions and his participation will lead to a possible clash with Tete.

“It goes without saying that we want Inoue to be part of the series so we want him to win against McDonnell,” said Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene. —