Zolani Tete Shot Dead Outside His Home in South Africa: Former Two-Time World Champion Killed a Month Before the End of His Suspension

The world of professional boxing is shaken by tragedy: 38-year-old South African boxer Zolani Tete, who competed under the nickname "Last Born" and held a record of 29-4-1 with 22 knockouts, became the victim of an armed attack in his homeland. According to BoxingScene, the incident took place on Friday evening in the town of Mdantsane in the Eastern Cape province. The boxer drove up to his home in a car and was waiting for the gate to open when two armed, masked men approached the vehicle and opened fire. Tete managed to drive into the courtyard, but he died at the scene from his severe injuries.

Circumstances of the Attack and the Condition of the Injured

Preliminary data indicates that a 27-year-old woman was in the car with Tete; she was also seriously injured and was rushed to hospital. The attackers fled the scene, and South African police have launched a large-scale investigation into the murder. The official causes and motives of the attack, as well as the identities of the shooters, have not been established as of publication.

Historic Record and the Road to the Top

Zolani Tete entered boxing history with a unique achievement: in 2017 he knocked out his compatriot Siboniso Gonyo in just 11 seconds, securing what experts consider the fastest victory in the history of championship fights. Over his career he became a world champion in two weight classes, making him one of the brightest representatives of the new generation of South African boxing.

Suspension and the Prepared Comeback

Following a fight in July 2022, the athlete was suspended for four years for the use of stanozolol. The punishment was officially set to end on 29 July 2026. The tragedy occurred at a moment when Tete was actively preparing to return to the big ring after serving his ban, which lends a particular dramatic weight to what happened.

Contradictory Data

As of publication, the versions of the main sources (BoxingScene, zamin.uz, tengrisport.kz, sports.ru, kommersant.ru) on the key facts — the deceased's age, the location and time of the attack, the number of shooters, and the condition of the passenger — are consistent. The differences are purely editorial in nature: some outlets describe Tete as a "former world champion in two weight classes," while others call him a "two-time world champion," which in fact describes the same fact. No significant discrepancies in dates or figures between the sources have been identified.