by Ronnie Nathanielsz

South African promoter Rodney Berman who was given three options on newly crowned IBO junior bantamweight champion Edrin “The Sting” Dapudong (29-5, 17 KO’s) is planning to match South Africa’s Zolani Tete against the hard-hitting Filipino probably on August 31.

Should it push through the first title defense of Dapudong will take place at the Emperors Palace in Johannesburg where he won the crown with a smashing 1st round knockout in a rematch with Gideo Buthelezi who earlier won the title in a roundly condemned hometown decision which resulted in IBO president Ed Levine ordering a rematch.

Given the IBO president's decision,  its difficult to understand why promoter Berman was given three options.

 

The Golden Gloves Promotions website said Tete had been very unlucky in two of his three career defeats.

He lost by a twelve round split decision in a title eliminator  against Roberto Domingo Sosa on September 1, 2012 after earlier losing by a majority decision to Juan Alberto Rosas.

Tete also lost by a 5th round TKO to talented IBF flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane on September 1, 2010.

The report said Tete carries decent power and proved it with his recent first round knockout of Filipino  Eduard “Big Heart” Penerio whose record of 15-1 with 10 knockouts was misleading since he fought low quality opponents with poor records.

However Tete also scored a 1st round knockout of former world title challenger Rexon Flores of the Philippines taking just 28 seconds to take out Flores indicating he did possess punching power.