Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete shot dead in South Africa

Mdantsane, South Africa, August 22, 2026 — Former world champion boxer Zolani Tete has been shot dead at his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South African officials have confirmed.

South Africa’s Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, said on Friday night that the 38-year-old boxer was killed while inside his car. A 27-year-old woman who was also in the vehicle was shot multiple times and remains in hospital.

According to police, the shooting occurred as Tete arrived at his residence and was waiting for the entrance gate to open. Two armed men wearing balaclavas reportedly ambushed the boxer.

Tete was a two-time world champion who won the WBF flyweight title in 2007 and 2008 before claiming the WBO bantamweight championship in 2017 and 2019.

His major breakthrough came in 2014 when he defeated Japan’s Teiru Kinoshita on points to win the IBF junior-bantamweight world title. He later captured the WBO interim title before being recognised as a full world champion.

Tete produced one of the most remarkable knockouts in world-title boxing in 2017. He stopped Siboniso Gonya with the first punch of their WBO bantamweight title fight, ending the bout after just 11 seconds. It remains one of the fastest knockouts recorded in a world championship fight.

The southpaw finished his professional career with 29 victories, including 22 by knockout, along with four defeats and one no contest.

His final professional fight took place in July 2022 at Wembley Arena in London, where he defeated Britain’s Jason Cunningham.

However, the result was later overturned after Tete returned a positive test for stanozolol, a banned anabolic steroid. He was subsequently given a four-year suspension.

Tete consistently maintained that he had not knowingly taken the prohibited substance. His suspension expired in July 2026, and he had reportedly been preparing for a return to professional boxing.