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Last Born ready to do it all on his own

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Zolani Tete in action against Filipino Richard Garcia during the International Boxing Federation flyweight title eliminator in March 2010. Tete has made the shock decision to relinquish his crown. 
Picture: Leon Sadiki
Zolani Tete in action against Filipino Richard Garcia during the International Boxing Federation flyweight title eliminator in March 2010. Tete has made the shock decision to relinquish his crown. Picture: Leon Sadiki

Former International Boxing Federation (IBF) super flyweight kingpin Zolani “Last Born” Tete will officially launch his own promoting body on December 18.

This will also be the day the East London idol will stage his own tournament under the name of his company, Last Born Promotions, at the Boardwalk Casino and Entertainment Centre in Port Elizabeth. He will top the bill against Argentina’s Javier Nicolas Chacon in a junior bantamweight 10-round bout.

This epoch-making moment makes Tete the country’s first pugilist to become both boxer and promoter in the same tournament.

He follows an illustrious list of boxers, including Floyd “Money” Mayweather of Mayweather Promotions, to have staged their own bouts. Mayweather retired in September after beating fellow American Andre Berto to register his 49th undefeated fight.

The 27-year-old Tete wants to make an impact in his first venture as a local impresario.

“I am looking forward to making a mark as a fighter and promoter. I got my promoter’s licence in September, which I have registered in my friend Xolani Noyana’s name,” said Tete, who parted ways with Branco Milenkovic in July after his contract with the promoter ended.

“I’m looking forward to organising a bill that will feature good fighters.”

Tete said he was hoping to lead by example by winning his self-promoted bouts in future.

Negotiations are in the pipeline for the fighter to campaign internationally under the banner of prominent British promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions. Warren has previously worked with prominent English boxers such as then world champions Frank Bruno (heavyweight) and Naseem Hamed (junior featherweight).

Tete said Warren expressed an interest to work with him after the East London pugilist knocked out English opponent Paul Butler in the eighth round of their IBF title contest in Liverpool in February.

Tete said: “Discussions between me, my manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, and the promoter regarding my future fights being promoted in England are ongoing. This bodes well for my career as well,” he said.

Queensberry spokesperson Andy Ayling told City Press from Hertfordshire in England this week: “We have met and have a very good relationship with Zolani Tete.

“Talks are at an advanced stage with a view to Frank Warren becoming the exclusive promoter of Tete with, of course, the goal being to regain a world title in 2016.”

Tengimfene said his charge would gain enough exposure to fight in the UK. He added: “Our view is to see our man challenging Puerto Rican McJoe Arroyo for the IBF title in future.”

Arroyo became the IBF champion in July. This was after Tete was stripped of his championship belt after it went to purse bids. As title holder, Last Born had refused to defend the championship for a “paltry”
R70 000 purse, because such a prize would not have covered his costs to travel to the fight.

Tete put up an impressive showing in his last
outing when he stopped Mexican Olguin Ramirez Diuhl in the eighth round at the Orient Theatre, Tete’s boxing fortress in East London, in September.

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