Former two-weight world champion Zolani Tete has been shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane, South Africa. He was 38.
According to Eastern Cape police, Tete had just returned home on Friday evening and was waiting for his gate to open when two unknown armed suspects wearing balaclavas reportedly opened fire on his vehicle.
Police said Tete attempted to drive into the yard but succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. A 27-year-old woman was reportedly in the vehicle with him. No suspect has been identified.
Tete (29-4, 22 KOs) won world titles at junior bantamweight and bantamweight. He captured the vacant IBF junior bantamweight belt against Teiru Kinoshita in 2014 and later became WBO bantamweight champion.
He also produced one of boxing’s fastest world-title knockouts, stopping Siboniso Gonya in just 11 seconds in 2017.
Tete had reportedly been preparing to return to the ring on November 29 after completing a four-year doping suspension in July.
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