Fighters floored away from home

South African boxers failed to deliver the goods in international bouts in Mexico and Montenegro at the weekend.

Zolani Tete, the third-ranked IBF boxer, was unlucky not to get a draw with Mexican Juan Alberto Rosas (IBF fourth-ranked) in Sinaloa, Mexico and was handed the second defeat of his career.

Rosas eventually won the fight, an IBF super flyweight title eliminator, after a split decision, with scores of 115-112, 115-112 and 113-113.

At the other end of the world, in Montenegro, there was no love shown for Peter Mashamaite as his opponent, Nikola Sjekloca, remained unbeaten and took the WBC international super middleweight title with another narrow split decision.

Also in Montenegro, punishment was handed to Godfrey Nzimande during a fight with undefeated local man, Dejan Zlaticanin, for the vacant WBC international lightweight title.

The South African junior lightweight title holder suffered his fourth career defeat when the fight was unanimously awarded to the home fighter.