By Monwabisi Jimlongo
Zolani ‘Last Born’ Tete has described 2020 as a bad year in his boxing career as he didn’t lace his gloves since his World Boxing
Organisation (WBO) bantamweight title loss to Filipino boxer Johnriel Casimero in November 2019.
The former International Boxing Federation (IBF) junior-bantamweight and WBO bantamweight champion had hoped that he would return to action and cover lost ground in world boxing.
However, things didn’t work out as he had planned as the COVID-19 pandemic continued to run riot throughout the world affecting people’s daily lives.
‘‘This has been a bad year. Not fighting for 13 months is not a nice thing. This is the second time that something like this has happened to me. I last fought in November last year after I had been out because of injury,’’ Tete said.
‘‘I didn’t fight this year because of COVID-19. I live boxing and that’s is the only way I make money for my family. This is a bad
experience. I hope things will change next year because we have had tournaments even though no fans were allowed into venues.’’
The 32-year-old Tete had thought 2020 was going to be the year he would try to reclaim his WBO belt.
Tete’s manager Mlandeli Tengimfene and his promoter Frank Warren from Queensberry Promotions have been talking about a possible return next year.
‘‘Things are becoming more difficult now that the second wave is upon us. My manager and promoter Frank Warren are always in touch and have agreed that I will fight next year,’’ Tete said.
‘‘My family, parents and my wife have suffered. I had to dig deep into my reserves in order for my family to survive. This was not the plan.
That I have not been able to do what I normally do for my parents has disturbed me. Inactivity has also affected my trainers as they are not earning a cent.
‘‘My reserves are going to be depleted big time if things carry on like this and that’s gonna affect my life in future. My plan was to sustain my family and parents beyond my boxing career. I’m hopeful that things would change on the COVID-19 front so that I can fight overseas again.’’
