Tete confident amateur sparring will give him edge in UK bout
Zolani Tete’s latest bout will have a far-reaching effect on amateur boxers at home, after he decided to use them as sparring partners to prepare for his double title challenge in the UK on Saturday.
Tete arrived in the UK with his team, consisting of trainer Loyiso Mtya, manager Mla Tengimfene and his brother Makazole, who is also an assistant trainer, on Monday.
Brimming with confidence, the Mdantsane southpaw left behind three amateur boxers empowered and feeling that they would one day follow in his footsteps.
This after weeks of serving as his sparring partners in preparation for his IBF international and Commonwealth junior featherweight title challenges against Jason Cunningham at OVO Arena in London on Saturday.
The amateur boxers, who helped Tete were SA team members Amzolele “Globe” Dyeyi, Tiisetso Matinkinca and Sanele Sogcwayi. They are all left handers, as is Cunningham.
Tete described the sparring sessions against the amateur trio as the best he had ever benefited from ahead of his bout.
“I cannot thank those boys enough for helping me.
“I told them before the sparring sessions that they should not hold back and think that they were sparring with Zolani Tete but just give their all.
“Indeed, they pushed me very hard and what I liked most was that because they are still young, they were fast and nimble and made me think twice.
“This is what I expect Cunningham to also do but he will not be as fast as them so the advantage is with me when I meet him.”
Tete argued he did not want to spar with established boxers such as world title contender Azinga Fuzile, whom he used before.
“Azinga’s style is not like Cunningham’s even though he is also a left hander, but he is often laid back and does not initiate the action, hence we did not use him.
“We wanted someone who would charge at me and throw quick punches.
While he is in top physical condition owing to the sparring sessions, Tete said he was also happy to share his experience with young boxers in their development.
“I know sparring with me gave them plenty of confidence that they will be future world champions as well and that is what also motivated me to use them.
“Some of them are already in the SA amateur team and I think this will help them going forward.”
Tete’s clash against Cunningham, who at 32 is something of a late bloomer, will form part of Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, also featuring unbeaten British hope Joe Joyce against German Christian Hammer.
Tete has lost four times in 33 bouts scoring 22 stoppages while Cunningham has two losses more in 37 fights.