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Respected boxing manager Mlandeli Tengimfene says it feels as if a part of his body is missing after the death of his charge, Zolani “Last Born” Tete. He struggled to speak when Sowetan asked for his comment. “Eish, my bra,” he said in words that painted a picture of someone battling to hold back tears. “I am arriving at his house now for a meeting, and not our usual meeting about our boxing business. “It’s a different one today [Saturday], one about what to do now that he is gone for ever.” Tengimfene and Tete had become like father and son since they teamed up in 2012. It was Tete and his older brother, Makazole, who pleaded with Tengimfene to look after their boxing careers. “I don’t know what to say, really,” said Tengimfene, of the All Winners Boxing Club in Mdantsane. The trio are homeboys in Mdantsane, but Tengimfene now lives in Cambridge. “But one thing is for sure: the truth will come out,” he said. Nicknamed “Last Born” because he is the last born in a family of two boys and two girls, the accomplished boxer is reported to have been shot dead at the front gate of his house in Mdantsane on Friday night. It is reported that the 38-year-old former WBF flyweight, IBF junior bantamweight and WBO bantamweight world champion was in a car with his son and a female passenger. The son was not harmed, but the female passenger was shot in her leg. Recently, Tengimfene and Tete celebrated the end of Tete’s four-year ban for failing a dope test in the UK in 2022. Tete stopped Jason Cunnigham in four rounds to win the Commonwealth, IBF and WBO International junior featherweight belts at Wembley Arena in Wembley, London. He later tested positive for the prohibited steroid — stanozolol — and received a four-year ban. Two weeks ago a huge poster of Tete making a comeback was circulated, and he was waiting for Boxing SA to renew his licence. Under Tengimfene, Tete became a global star. The manager introduced his charge to British promoter Frank Warren — 2008 Hall of Fame inductee — who guided more than 150 fighters to world championships, including Tyson Fury, Naseem Hamed, Joe Calzaghe, Ricky Hatton, and Frank Bruno. Warren also promoted Azumah “The Professor” Nelson, Jacob Matlala, Thulani “Sugarboy” Malinga and Harry “The Terminator” Simon. Tete’s association with Warren saw him being included in the inaugural World Super Series, where Tete’s injury to his arm ruled him out of his semifinal fight with Nonito “Filipino Flash” Donaire of the Philippines in 2019. Donaire defeated Moruti “Baby Face” Mthalane for the vacant IBF flyweight world title in the US on November 1 2008. A year later, Mthalane won that belt, and his first successful defence was against Tete. That was Tete’s only defeat by a South African. Tete, who won the IBF junior bantamweight world title on July 18 2014 in Japan, viciously knocked out Paul Butler in round eight in the UK. That fight was staged by Warren. It was after that fight that Tengimfene hooked up Tete with Warren. Tete, the switch-hitter, rewrote boxing history in the quickest time of a world title defence on November 18 2017. He knocked out Siboniso Gonya in 11 seconds to retain the WBO bantamweight belt in Belfast. That KO eclipsed the record by WBO junior featherweight champion Daniel Jiminez, who stopped Harald Geier in 17 seconds in 1994. Tete started his amateur career under Phathekile Sinyabi and then moved to Mzimase Mnguni, where he turned professional. The boxer later joined Nick Durandt before he teamed up with Tengimfene, who roped in Loyiso Mtya, who was assisted by Mikiza Myekeni. Before Tete’s death on Friday night, Tengimfene brought on board trainer Andile Mofu, who was assisted by Makazole. Tete’s awards: - 2016 Knockout of the Year: Won in January for his 2015 victory over Paul Butler. - 2017 Boxer of the Year: Won on February 2 2018, recognising his interim WBO bantamweight title win against Arthur Villanueva. - Special Achievement Award: Won on February 2 2018, honouring his international championship success outside South Africa. Sowetan