Who was Zolani Tete? Inside the SA boxer’s remarkable career

The late Zolani “Last Born” Tete was shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane on Friday, 21 August.

He was one of South Africa’s most accomplished boxers, celebrated for his power, precision, and resilience in the ring.

ZOLANI TETE SHOT DEAD OUTSIDE HIS HOME

South Africans were left in shock and heartbreak following the killing of former two-division boxing world champion Zolani Tete.

As previously reported by The South African, Eastern Cape police have arrested three more suspects in connection with the killing of former two-division boxing world champion Zolani Tete, bringing the total number of people in police custody to four.

WHO WAS ZOLANI TETE?

Zolani was born on 8 March 1988 in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, a township famous for producing boxing talent.

He began his training at the age of eight and went on to enjoy an extraordinary amateur career with more than 400 fights, losing only three.

He turned professional in 2006 and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a two-weight world champion.

Tete first captured the IBF junior-bantamweight title in 2014, defeating Teiru Kinoshita in Japan and defending it successfully against Britain’s Paul Butler.

He later moved up to bantamweight, where he won the WBO title in 2017, initially as interim champion against Arthur Villanueva before being elevated to full champion.

His most iconic moment came in Belfast in November 2017, when he knocked out fellow South African Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds, setting a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a world title fight.

Over his professional career, he fought 34 times, winning 29 bouts, 22 of them by knockout.

CAREER SETBACKS

Despite his success, Tete’s career faced setbacks. In 2022, he tested positive for the banned substance stanozolol after a victory in London, leading to a four-year suspension.

He denied deliberately using performance-enhancing drugs and was preparing for a comeback when his suspension ended in July 2026.

Tete was also admired for his humility and devotion to family. The boxer famously used his earnings to buy a prosthetic leg for his mother, fulfilling a promise he had made as a child.

He remained deeply connected to Mdantsane, inspiring young fighters in a community with a proud boxing tradition.

Tete is an icon and his legacy spreads further than his titles and record-breaking knockout but also in his role as a symbol of resilience and pride for South African boxing.

His journey from Mdantsane’s gyms to the world stage ensured his place among the country’s greatest fighters, and his memory continues to inspire future generations.