Trainer and Promoter Colin Nathan Pays Tribute To Zolani Tete’s Legacy

Boxing coach and promoter Colin Nathan reiterated that NU12 Mdantsane should stand up and be proud of the achievements and legacy that the late Zolani Tete has left behind following his shocking passing in East London last week.

Mdantsane’s Pride

A week ago, South Africa was shocked to learn about the brutal passing of boxing champion and legend Zolani Tete in his home in Mdantsane, where he was gunned down in his driveway.

The “Last Born”, as many referred to Tete, is a former IBF super-flyweight and WBO bantamweight world champion, and many remember him for his world-record 11-second finish in a title fight, which is the fastest knockout in a title fight ever in the history of the sport.

Tete was raised in the Eastern Cape, in East London’s Mdantsane township, which has a very rich history of producing some of the country’s finest boxers.

Boxing coach and promoter Colin Nathan believes that Mdantsane should be proud of Tete’s achievements and the impact that he has had on the youth of Mdantsane and the whole of South Africa.

Nathan further expressed that the passing of Tete is a tragedy for the sport of boxing, especially given that Tete had finished his four-year ban from the sport, with a return to the ring a possibility before his life was cut short.

“I think that NU12 and Mdantsane need to stand up and be proud of one of the sons that's no longer, who had the ability to change his life and his family's lives with his two fists,” Nathan told SportsBoom.co.za in an exclusive interview.   

“It’s such a tragedy for global boxing that he's passed. Boxing is very much culturally ingrained in the Eastern Cape, and I'm saying this with a big smile because most provinces are soccer-preached. But if you go to the Eastern Cape, boxing is like a religion down there.”

Nathan expressed his concern about the nature of Tete’s passing, citing that the boxer’s passing highlights the violence that South Africans have to face in their everyday lives.

“Now, in my personal view on what happened to Zolani, the fact that he's late is just senseless, unnecessary, and just a stark reminder of just how rotten and evil the world can be.”

Tete’s Career Highlights

Nathan remembers Tete’s career, which was filled with many highlights, and singles out his victory over Paul Butler to become the IBF super-flyweight champion through an eighth-round TKO.

“His standout performance for me, besides the 11-second world record for knockouts in any world title fight, anywhere in the world, would be when he fought the unbeaten Paul Butler, who was then the IBF 118-pound champion,” said Nathan.  

“He was going down to the super flyweight division to challenge Zolani, and he got stopped in eight rounds by a perfect left uppercut from the Southpaw position." 

“When I think of Zolani as a fighter, I think of beautiful technique, movements in the ring, great punch placements, beautiful triggers and feints, and just a dynamic puncher who can knock you out with either hand," he concluded.