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MANILA, Philippines – Filipino boxer Jether Oliva will face former IBF junior bantamweight titleholder Zolani Tete on December 18 at the ICC Hotel in East London, South Africa. It’ll be a 10-round non-title fight, but it’s an opportunity that promoter Jim Claude Manangquil calls Oliva’s “last chance” at a big win.
Oliva (23-3-2, 11 knockouts) of General Santos City, Philippines has been undefeated in his home country but all 3 of his losses have come abroad. The 28-year-old boxer-puncher was competitive in a 2011 unanimous decision loss to IBF junior flyweight titleholder Ulises Solis in Mexico. In 2014, Oliva traveled to South Africa, where he broke the nose of former flyweight champion Moruti Mthalane before losing by a split decision.
(READ: Boxer Jether Oliva hopes second chance at title is the charm)
After being stopped in 4 rounds by Mexican prospect Luis Nery this past February, and having beaten only one fighter with a winning record since 2011, Oliva is in danger of being relegated to “opponent” status.
“This will be the last chance for Oliva,” says Manangquil, who handles Oliva out of the Sanman Gym in General Santos City. “He will try to give everything he got.”
Tete (21-3, 18 KOs) is rated no. 4 by The Ring magazine at 115 pounds after toppling Teiru Kinoshita of Japan for the vacant title in 2014 but vacated the belt after claiming he was being financially low-balled for a mandatory title defense against Puerto Rico’s McJoe Arroyo.
Arroyo ended up defeating Filipino Arthur Villanueva in July to win the vacant title.
The event will be promoted by Ayanda Matiti of Xaba Promotions. – Rappler.com
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