SA Boxer Zolani Tete Sets World Record with Fastest KO in Title Fight Win in Belfast
South African boxer Zolani ‘Last Born’ Tete made history on Saturday night in Belfast, Northern Ireland, with the fastest World Title knock-out in boxing history! He knocked out his opponent – fellow South African Siboniso Gonya – in just 11 seconds! The previous record was 17 seconds, from a fight in 1994. The 29-year-old defending […]
South African boxer Zolani ‘Last Born’ Tete made history on Saturday night in Belfast, Northern Ireland, with the fastest World Title knock-out in boxing history! He knocked out his opponent – fellow South African Siboniso Gonya – in just 11 seconds!
The previous record was 17 seconds, from a fight in 1994.
The 29-year-old defending WBO Bantam Weight Champion told reporters after the fight that he knew Gonya “wasn’t going to last” and thanked his trainers for being “the ones doing the job behind the scenes”.
The two South Africans – Tete from the Eastern Cape and Gonya from KwaZulu-Natal – were set for 12 three-minute rounds… but it was all over before the first round had barely begun. In fact it was all over with the first punch of the fight.
Gonya, the intercontinental champion, was knocked unconscious with a hit to the chin, and had to receive medical attention in the ring before he could stand. He was given oxygen mask afterwards.
Tete, former IBF Junior Bantamweight Champion, grew up in Mdantasane township where he had a “rough childhood” according to a Wikipedia entry. His father was a pastory and he and his brother took up boxing when he was just eight.
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