By Mesuli Zifo
ZOLANI Tete’s highly anticipated WBO world bantamweight title defence against Argentinean Omar Narvaez has been postponed after the South African suffered an injury in training.
According to Tete’s manager Mla Tengimfene, Tete suffered a calf injury while running on the sand in preparation for the fight that was scheduled to be held at Copper Box Arena, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Hackney Wick in London on February 10.
Tete was to headline the show for the first time abroad. He is fresh from breaking a world record by knocking out compatriot Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds at SSE Arena in Belfast this past November.
Tengimfene said the 28-year-old boxer has been given some time to let the injury heal on its own.
“You know Zolani always goes full blast in training so he apparently pulled a muscle and could not walk,” he said.
Tete team has now sent all the medicals to the boxer’s English promoter Frank Warren who has reportedly rescheduled the fight for a date in April possibly in Belfast where his other star Carl Frampton will face Filipino Nonito Donaire.
Interestingly Tete and Frampton Tete shared the November bill with the Irish beating Mexican Horacio Garcia in the main bout while Tete ruthlessly floored Gonya with the first punch of the fight.
Tete is chasing for unification clashes against other champions in the division including Irish Ryan Burnett who holds WBA and IBF titles.
He is also eyeing Japanese Naoya Inoue who has expressed an interest to challenge him once he moves up to the bantamweight from the junior bantamweight where he ruled as a WBO king.
Tengimfene said his charge was still committed to facing Inoue once his injury heals.
Interesting Tete’s title defence against Narvaez will be closely monitored and serve as a yardstick if he finally fights Inoue.
The Japanese fighter knocked out Narvaez to wrest the WBO junior bantamweight crown in 2014.