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Tete comes ... and goes

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Loyiso Mtya. Picture: Sipho Maluka
Loyiso Mtya. Picture: Sipho Maluka

Former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) international flyweight champion Makazole “The Professor” Tete has dumped trainer Loyiso Mtya barely a week after rejoining Mtya’s stable.

The news of the breakup was confirmed on Friday by the Mdanstane, East London, boxer himself.

He said his move to go it alone for a while was prompted by a “misunderstanding” between his promoter, Ayanda Matiti of Xaba Boxing Promotions, and his manager, Mlandeli Tengimfene, who is in charge of All Winners Boxing Club. Both are also based in East London.

“I reunited with Tengimfene this week to be trained by Mtya and be in the same stable with my younger brother, Zolani,” said Tete.

“But I’ve realised that both my promoter and manager have a dispute regarding me as their fighter. I’ve decided the best thing was to train on my own at an East London gym until they solved their personal problems.”

Tete could not explain what the real bone of contention was between the two “warring parties”, save to say that he had made the mistake of joining Tengimfene without “informing Matiti”.

Tete’s move to dump Mtya came as something of a surprise in boxing circles. On Tuesday, the 29-year-old had told City Press he was happy to again be guided by Mtya.

Matiti, however, who ranks among the country’s most prominent boxing impresarios, has vowed that there is no way The Professor will be managed by Tengimfene.

“I’m Tete’s promoter and am therefore responsible for everything regarding his career. No one, except myself, has a say in his boxing affairs,” said Matiti.

Tengimfene would only say: “Tete is responsible for his own career. I never chose to be his manager. He wanted to come back to our gym and we accepted him. I’m surprised by his move. I respect his decision to leave our stable.”

Mtya also admitted surprise at The Professor’s decision to abandon the gym after such a brief period.

“He trained on Tuesday. Anyway, it’s up to the boy himself to choose where he wants to train. I can’t stand in his way.”

Tete’s skills were honed by erstwhile IBO light flyweight kingpin Mhikiza Myekeni at Tengimfene’s club for more than two years. He quit last year in April and was coached by Dowie Mzini for 10 months. Tete then reunited with Tengimfene last week, and was to be fine-tuned by Mtya.

He needs all the help he can get. The Professor produced a lacklustre showing in his last fight when he lost to Gideon Buthelezi by unanimous decision for the vacant IBO title at the Orient Theatre in East London in December. So unimpressive was Tete during the fight that he ran around the ring for the entire 12 rounds but could do little to stop Buthelezi from catching him with a few big right hooks.

What was even worse was how Tete was embarrassed by the more polished Buthelezi in front of his parents, who were at the ringside to cheer Tete on.

Although he is now supposedly training on his own, his latest moves came amid many local boxers who recently “crossed the floor” to other managers and/or trainers recently (see box). The trend of mixing and matching stables has been prevalent for some time.

Last week, reigning IBO featherweight champion Lusanda Komanisi left trainer Nick Durandt in Gauteng to be trained by Mtya.

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