Former two-time world boxing champion Zolani Tete has been shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa.
The 38-year-old boxer was reportedly killed on Friday after armed attackers ambushed him while he was in his vehicle waiting for the gate of his home to open.
According to reports, two suspects wearing balaclavas emerged from another vehicle and opened fire, shooting Tete and a 27-year-old female passenger who was travelling with him. The woman survived the attack and was taken to hospital for treatment.
The attackers fled the scene following the shooting, prompting South African authorities to launch a major investigation into the circumstances surrounding the former champion’s death.
South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, expressed shock over the killing and paid tribute to Tete, describing him as one of the finest fighters the country had produced.
Tete enjoyed a successful professional boxing career and won world titles in two weight divisions.
He captured the IBF super-flyweight title in 2014 before later becoming the WBO bantamweight champion, a title he held from 2017 to 2019.
The South African boxer also built a strong reputation internationally and competed several times in the United Kingdom. One of his notable victories came against Liverpool’s Paul Butler in 2015.
Tete also entered the Guinness World Records after producing one of the fastest knockouts in a world title fight. In 2017, he stopped Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds, creating a memorable moment in boxing history.
His final professional appearance came in July 2022, when he defeated Britain’s Jason Cunningham by knockout in London. However, the result was later changed to a no-contest after Tete tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid stanozolol.
Following the failed drug test, Tete received a four-year suspension from the UK Anti-Doping Agency. His ban ended on July 29, 2026, and his manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, confirmed that the boxer had been preparing for a return to professional boxing.
Tete was reportedly scheduled to make his comeback on November 29, meaning his death came just months after his suspension ended.
During his career, Tete recorded 29 victories in 34 professional fights, alongside four defeats and one no-contest.
News of his death has generated tributes from several prominent figures in boxing.
Japanese boxing superstar Naoya Inoue described Tete as a “wonderful boxer” and expressed his condolences following the news.
Former WBO bantamweight champion John Riel Casimero, who defeated Tete in November 2019 to take the title from him, also paid tribute to his former opponent.
Casimero described himself as shocked and heartbroken, remembering Tete as a true warrior and champion who had pushed him to perform at his best inside the ring.
Tete’s manager also expressed deep sadness over the killing, saying the boxer was preparing to revive his career after serving his suspension.
The World Boxing Organization (WBO) also mourned the former champion, extending condolences to his family, friends and the wider South African boxing community.
Police investigations into the shooting are ongoing as authorities work to identify and arrest the two suspects responsible for the attack.
Tete’s death marks a tragic end to the life of a boxer who represented South Africa on the international stage and achieved world championship success in two weight divisions.
Source: Thepressradio.com
