SA's Tete takes IBF world title

Zolani ''Last Born" Tete made the most of his 67 minutes for Mandela when he punched his way to the IBF junior-bantamweight title on Friday.

The timing of his triumph over Japanese Teiru Kinoshita was not lost on Tete and he said it was only fitting he dedicate his win to the man whose life the world celebrated this week.

''If you do something in the name of Nelson Mandela, it has to be done in a special way because that is who he was," Tete said from Japan.

''Gratitude to my promoter Branco Milenkovic, to my trainer Mhikiza Myekeni, manager Mla Tengimfene, my brother Makazole (the current SA and WBA Pan African flyweight champion) and my father who are here with me."

Tete was at his irrepressible best and completely outclassed Kinoshita on points in a one-sided fight in front of his home fans at Portopia Hotel in Kobe, Japan.

US judge Chris Flores scored it 118-110, South African Deon Dwarte 119-109 and Japanese Katshuhiko Nakamura 118-110 all in favour of the 25-year-old Tete, who becomes the only current IBF holder in SA.

Kinoshita works as a floor manager at Portopia Hotel and had agreed to a bet that his employers thought would help motivate him for the fight.

The hotel owners had told the boxer he would be permanently demoted to the role of dishwasher should he lose to the South African, and he felt confident enough to take the bet.

The last South African boxer to wear the IBF strap - one of the big-four world titles - was Moruti ''Baby Face" Mthalane, who vacated his flyweight belt last year.

Sports Minister Fikile Mba-lula followed the fight from Glasgow, Scotland, where he is attending the Commonwealth Games and said Tete should be commended for winning the title away from home.

''There is no other gesture to honour Tata that is bigger than what Zolani did and achieved," Mbalula said.

Milenkovic said he was delighted that SA once again has a legitimate world champion.

''Zolani becomes my 10th IBF world champion. But without doubt, comparing to our former champions, Tete was the only one to travel all over the world and kept winning."

Milenkovic said given Tete's hitting power, he was expecting a stoppage.