Former World Champion Boxer Zolani Tete Shot Dead at 38

South African boxing has been thrown into mourning. Former world champion Zolani Tete has been shot dead outside his home. He was 38.

Police and South Africa’s sports, arts and culture minister, Gayton McKenzie, confirmed his death on Friday.

How it happened

Tete was arriving at his residence in Mdantsane, in the Eastern Cape.

He was waiting in his car for his gate to open. That was when two armed men wearing balaclavas got out of a vehicle and opened fire, police said.

The incident happened on Friday evening, August 21. He was declared dead at the scene.

A 27-year-old woman who was travelling with him was also hit. She was shot multiple times and rushed to hospital.

"I will not speculate about who did this or why," Minister McKenzie said. Police have opened an investigation. The motive remains unclear.

A champion remembered

Tete was known in boxing circles as "Last Born".

He is best remembered for one of the fastest moments in boxing history. In November 2017, in Belfast, he knocked out fellow South African Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds.

It remains the fastest stoppage ever in a world title fight. He delivered it while defending the WBO bantamweight crown he won that year, a belt he held until 2019.

The southpaw had been a champion before that. He first became world champion at junior-bantamweight, winning the IBF belt by beating Japan’s Teiru Kinoshita in Kobe in 2014. Earlier in his career, he also held the minor WBF flyweight title.

Comeback cut short

His death comes just weeks after he was cleared to return to the ring.

Tete had served a four-year ban after testing positive for the anabolic steroid stanozolol following his 2022 fight with Jason Cunningham.

His suspension ended on July 29. He had been planning a comeback.

Police say investigations are ongoing and his family has been informed.