Zolani Tete dead at 38: Former World Champion boxer shot dead after being ambushed at home

FORMER world champion boxer Zolani Tete has been killed in a tragic shooting. Reports in South Africa revealed the horrific news that Tete had died at the age of 38. Zolani Tete has been shot and killed in a shooting outside his home in South Africa Credit: Getty Tete was a two-weight world champion Credit: Getty Tete held world title belts in the WBF flyweight category from 2007 to 2008 and later the WBO bantamweight title from 2017 and 2019. He also holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest knockout in a title fight in boxing history after KO-ing Siboniso Gonya 11 seconds into the opening round in 2017. Sign up for the Sport newsletter Thank you! However, South African news outlet eNCA reported Tete had been killed in a shooting in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape. Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said the incident had happened on Friday night at around 6:30pm. Gantana revealed Tete had been arriving at his residence and waiting for the gate to open when he was ambushed by two unknown armed suspects wearing balaclavas. A 27-year-old female passenger was also ambushed with Tete and remains in hospital. The armed suspects emerged from a vehicle and opened fire on them. Gantana said: “In an attempt to escape the hail of bullets, the deceased drove his vehicle into the yard. Most read in Sport “He unfortunately succumbed to his injuries and was declared deceased on the scene. “The female passenger sustained multiple gunshot wounds and was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. “She remains hospitalised.” Tete’s last boxing match was in July 2022 against British boxer Jason Cunningham at Wembley Arena. The bout was for Commonwealth, IBF and vacant WBO international super bantamweight titles, and ended in a fourth-round KO win for Tete. However, the result was later changed to a no contest after Tete failed a drugs test for the banned substance stanozolol. It resulted in the UK Anti-Doping Agency issuing him with a four-year ban from boxing, with the suspension officially beginning on July 30, 2022. That ban had expired in July 2026, and Tete was due to return to the ring. But such plans have been tragically snuffed out. Tributes poured in on social media, as one said: “Sad news, may his soul rest in peace.” A second said: “Devastating news.” A third added: “Rest in peace. Condolences to his family, loved ones and the entire boxing community.” Another said: “So sad.” Comment now