Former World Champion Boxer Zolani Tete Shot Dead in South Africa
MDANTSANE, SOUTH AFRICA – The global boxing community is in mourning following the tragic death of former world champion Zolani Tete, who was shot and killed outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, on Friday. The celebrated pugilist was 38 years old.
According to South African police reports, the incident occurred as Tete was arriving at his residence. While waiting in his vehicle for his gate to open, two unidentified assailants wearing balaclavas approached the car and opened fire.
A 27-year-old woman who was accompanying Tete in the vehicle was also struck multiple times during the attack. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she remains under medical care for her injuries. The two suspects fled the scene immediately following the shooting, and law enforcement officials have since launched a comprehensive investigation into the murder.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, issued a statement expressing his profound sorrow over the news, highlighting the impact Tete had on the nation’s sporting identity. "South Africa has lost one of the finest fighters it has ever produced," McKenzie said.
Tete enjoyed a stellar career in the ring, securing multiple world titles across various weight classes. He first rose to international prominence in 2007 by capturing the WBF flyweight title, a belt he held for a year. He later ascended to the top of the IBF super-flyweight division in 2014 and held the WBO bantamweight championship from 2017 to 2019.
Fans of the sport will long remember his 2017 bout against Siboniso Gonya, during which Tete delivered a knockout in just 11 seconds. The feat remains a Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in the history of a world title fight.
Tete’s final professional appearance occurred in July 2022, when he defeated Britain’s Jason Cunningham in London. However, the victory was later overturned to a no-contest following a positive drug test. Over the course of his professional tenure, Tete compiled a formidable record of 29 wins and four losses in 34 fights.
The senseless violence that cut his life short has sent shockwaves through the country, marking a somber day for those who followed the career of the former world champion. Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding the shooting to come forward as the investigation continues.
