Zolani Tete Aims To Make Statement on Flanagan-Mathews Bill

By Elliot Foster

Zolani Tete will fight in Britain again in the New Year and his next appearance on these shores is expected to be his first under the Queensberry Promotions banner.

The South African former IBF super flyweight champion (22-3, 18 KOs), who stopped Ellesmere Port’s Paul Butler in Liverpool back in March, recently signed a long-term deal with Frank Warren and, in doing so, joined a great African contingent to have previously been represented by the Hall of Fame promoter, including 'Baby' Jake Matlala, Harry Simon, 'Sugar Boy’ Thulani Malinga and the legendary Azumah Nelson.

Tete, 27, returned to the ring last week with a dominant victory over Filipino fighter Jether Oliva (23-4-2, 11 KOs) to claim the vacant WBO African title and is now set to feature on a world title undercard at Liverpool’s ECHO Arena.

‘Last Born’, a top-level southpaw who impressed when he dispatched of the ‘Baby-Faced Assassin’ Butler inside eight rounds nine months ago, has been promised an opportunity to fight on the same bill as the WBO lightweight title showdown, on February 13, between holder Terry Flanagan (29-0, 12 KOs) and Derry Mathews (38-9-2, 20 KOs), with the show to be aired exclusively live on BoxNation.

His manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, revealed after last week’s victory that the British fans would get the chance to see a man who was nominated for Best Overseas Performer of the Year at the British Boxing Board of Control Awards once again.

Tengimfene also said that a win on the Flanagan-Mathews bill in the late winter will put the Mdantsane-based five-foot nine-inch fighter in pole position for a shot at another world title after he vacated the aforementioned IBF trinket due to the rather unsatisfactory $25,000 purse offered for him to fight then-mandatory challenger –– and now champion –– McJoe Arroyo (17-0, 8 KOs) of Puerto Rico.