Zolani Petelo (born 21 September 1975) is a South African former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2005. He held the

IBF The International Boxing Federation (IBF) is one of four major organizations recognized by the International Boxing Hall of Fame (IBHOF) which sanctions professional boxing bouts, alongside the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Counci ...

mini-flyweight title from 1997 to 2000 and challenged for the IBF

junior-flyweight Light flyweight, also known as junior flyweight or super strawweight, is a Weight class (boxing), weight class in boxing. Professional boxing The weight limit at light flyweight in professional boxing is 108 pounds (49 kilograms). When New York (s ...

title in 2001.

Professional career

Petelo turned professional in 1993, and accumulated a record of 10–2–2 before receiving his first shot at a world title in 1997.

Mini-flyweight

As a significant underdog, Petelo scored a fourth-round

knockout A knockout (abbreviated to KO or K.O.) is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, muay thai, mixed martial arts, karate, some forms of taekwondo and other sports involving striking, a ...

over long reigning IBF mini-flyweight champion,

Ratanapol Sor Vorapin Ratanapol Sor Vorapin ( th, รัตนพล ส.วรพิน; born Preecha Charoenthara ( th, ปรีชา เจริญธารา), formerly ''Anucha Phothong'' (อนุชา โพธิ์ทอง)) is a Thai former professiona ...

, ending the champion's streak of 20 consecutive title fight victories. Petelo successfully defended his title five times against challengers Faisol Akbar, Carmelo Caceres,

Eric Jamili Eric Jamili (born May 20, 1977 in Silay, Negros Occidental, Philippines) is a retired Filipino professional boxer. He won the vacant WBO minimumweight title in December 1997 with an eighth round technical knockout of Englishman Mickey Cantwell i ...

Juanito Rubillar Juanito Rubillar (born February 22, 1977 in Barangay Central, Mati, Davao Oriental, Philippines) is a Filipino former professional boxer and current WBC Continental Americas light flyweight champions. He is the younger brother of fellow boxer ...

, and

Mickey Cantwell Mickey Cantwell (born 23 November 1964) is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1991 to 2001. He challenged for multiple world titles; the WBO light flyweight and mini flyweight titles in 1997; and the IBF mini flyweight title ...

. He vacated the title in 2001 in order to move up in weight.

Junior-flyweight

On 29 September 2001, he unsuccessfully challenged IBF junior-flyweight champion, Ricardo López, losing by eighth-round knockout.

Retirement

Following the loss to Lopez, Petelo remained inactive for the following three and a half years. In 2005, he returned to the ring against former IBO champion Zolile Mbityi, losing a closely contested eight-round

majority decision A majority decision (MD) is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking. In a majority decision, two of the three judges agree on which ...

. After suffering another decision loss, Petelo retired from the sport of boxing.

Professional boxing record

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Petelo, Zolani 1975 births Living people People from Ibhayi Xhosa people South African male boxers Mini-flyweight boxers Light-flyweight boxers World mini-flyweight boxing champions International Boxing Federation champions Sportspeople from the Eastern Cape