Zolani Tete, the 38-year-old former world champion boxer, was shot and killed outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa, on Friday. The fatal shooting occurred as Tete waited for the gate to open, and a 27-year-old woman in his car was also shot multiple times and is now hospitalized.
Fatal Shooting
South Africa’s sports, arts and culture minister, Gayton McKenzie, confirmed the incident late on Friday. Police said the shooting took place in Mdantsane, where Tete was arriving at his residence. He was ambushed by two armed suspects wearing balaclavas while he waited for the gate to open. The 27-year-old woman in the vehicle was shot multiple times and is currently in hospital.
Career Highlights
Tete’s boxing career spanned over a decade and earned him several world titles. He held the WBF flyweight title from 2007 to 2008 and the WBO bantamweight title in 2017 and 2019. In 2014, he captured the IBF junior-bantamweight world title by defeating Teiru Kinoshita on points in Japan. He also won the WBO interim title before becoming a recognised world champion.
Tete is remembered for an 11-second knockout in the first round of his 2017 world title fight against Siboniso Gonya - the fastest knockout in a world-title bout. His professional record stands at 29 victories, including 22 knockouts, four defeats and one no-contest. His last appearance was in July 2022, when he beat Britain’s Jason Cunningham at London’s Wembley Arena.
Suspension and Comeback
A subsequent positive test for stanozolol in 2022 led to the result being overturned and Tete receiving a four-year suspension. The ban expired in July, and Tete, who consistently denied knowingly taking the banned substance, had been working towards a comeback.
Tete had been training and preparing for a return to the ring after his suspension ended, but the tragic shooting cut short any plans for a comeback.
