Just one stumbling block remains for the comeback of former two-division world champion Zolani Tete, whose four-year doping suspension expired on July 29.
Following a fourth-round knockout victory over Jason Cunningham in 2022, Tete, 29-4 (22 KOs), tested positive for the steroid stanozolol, resulting in the UK Anti-Doping agency issuing him a mandatory four-year ban from boxing.
The knockout over Cunningham was changed to a no-contest, and South Africa’s Tete was stripped of his Commonwealth, IBF International, and WBO International junior-featherweight titles and his suspension officially began on July 30, 2022.
However, Tete’s return to boxing still isn’t assured, due to Boxing South Africa’s current safety regulations, stating that any boxer over age 35 who has been inactive for more than a year cannot be licensed without extensive medical clearances. Because former IBF junior bantamweight and WBO bantamweight titlist Tete is 38 years old and has been inactive for the last four years, he does not automatically qualify for a boxing license.
Tete must now undergo rigorous neurological testing and have his sparring sessions reviewed by BSA’s officials before being licensed.
“Last Born” Tete is reportedly already in training and the final roadblock is likely temporary, the BSA’s rules are currently being amended and will probably be signed into law soon, officially clearing the path for Tete to return.
Tete won the Interim WBO bantamweight belt by scoring a unanimous decision over Arthur Villanueva in 2017. After being elevated to full champion, he defended the belt three times successfully before losing it to John Riel Casimero via TKO 3 in 2019.
Tete captured the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title with a 12-round unanimous decision over Teiru Kinoshita in 2014 and defended it once before opting to relinquish and move up to the bantamweight division.
