Former two-time world boxing champion Zolani Tete has been shot and killed by two hooded attackers outside his home in Mdantsane, South Africa.
The 38-year-old athlete was targeted in the afternoon of Friday, 21 August, as he was returning to his residence in his car alongside a 27-year-old female passenger. The pair were waiting for the driveway gate to open when two individuals wearing balaclavas opened fire at point-blank range into the vehicle.
According to local police, the South African boxer attempted to force his way past the attackers to survive the ambush, but he succumbed to his injuries immediately afterwards. His female passenger sustained severe injuries in the shooting and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where authorities said she remains under medical care.
Local authorities confirmed that no suspects have been arrested so far and the motives behind the targeted attack remain unknown.
Boxing career and world records
Tete, who was known by the nickname The Last Born, held major world titles across two weight classes during his professional career. He was crowned the International Boxing Federation (IBF) super-flyweight world champion from 2014 to 2015, and later captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight world championship, holding the title from 2017 to 2019.
In 2017, Tete earned global renown during a title bout in Belfast when he knocked out fellow South African fighter Siboniso Gonya in just five seconds. The devastating punch secured the WBO bantamweight belt and set the record for the fastest knockout in world boxing championship history, an achievement recorded by Guinness World Records.
Doping suspension and planned return
The shooting occurred as Tete was preparing to make his return to professional boxing following a prolonged suspension for a doping violation. In July 2022, he tested positive for the banned anabolic steroid stanozolol after scoring a fourth-round knockout victory against British boxer Jason Cunningham at Wembley Arena in London.
Following the positive test, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) issued a four-year ban prohibiting Tete from all boxing-related activities. The ban officially expired on 29 July 2026, leaving Tete eligible to resume his fighting career before the fatal shooting occurred on Friday.
