Zolani Tete Set To Ink Promotional With Frank Warren

By Mesuli Zifo

FORMER IBF junior bantamweight champion and South African Zolani Tete is set to sign a multi year promotional contract with top British promoter Frank Warren.

Tete and his manager Mla Tengimfene flew to UK this week to meet Warren and engaged in negotiations which brought them closer to penning a contract. Tete reportedly agreed terms which are said to be a three-year deal involving three fights per year starting with a non title fight in UK this December.

Tengimfene confirmed the meeting and even posted the photo of the trio on social media.

“But we have not yet put pen to paper as yet although we are happy with the terms,” he said. “We asked Frank to allow us to seek a legal advice first although everything is above board as far as we are concerned.”

Tete vacated the IBF crown in April after realising that he would be fighting for a meagre purse in his mandatory title defence against Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo who has since ascended the throne.

The 27-year-old southpaw returned to action last month to score an eighth round stoppage of tough Mexican Diuhl Olguin in his home town of East London, SA. He impressed Warren when he inflicted the first professional loss on Paul Butler when he knocked him out in eight rounds in Liverpool this past March.

One of the best technical boxers in the light divisions, Tete has gained valuable experience by fighting in his opponents’ backyard suffering controversial losses which only proved to  steel his resolve.

Following disputed losses in Argentine against Roberto Sosa and in Mexico against Alberto Rosas-two of his three defeats in 24 fights with 18 stoppages- Tete has developed into a road warrior as he returned to Mexico to knock out Juan Carlos Sanchez in 10 rounds in an IBF title eliminator in 2013 before again dusting off his passport to travel to Japan where he outscored previously unbeaten Teiru Kinoshita to seize the IBF gold in July last year.

His road trip to Liverpool marked the third time in row he was fighting in his opponents’ backyard and such experience helped to convince him to sign with a foreign promoter.

“Tete basically makes any venue his home so fighting in England will be no different for him,” Tengimfene added. “This is why we did not hesitate when Frank invited us to negotiations.”