Chauke shocked by Tete brothers' betrayal

Chauke hurt by Tete brothers' betrayal

South African flyweight champion Jackson Chauke expressed his surprise at Zolani and Makazole Tete's backing of Sinethemba Kotana as he declared the rivalry between Gauteng and Eastern Cape boxers will never end. 

Chauke was speaking to SABC Sport after successfully defending his title for the fifth time as he beat Kotana - another boxer from the EC - on a unanimous points decision earlier this week.

After witnessing a number of leading current and former boxers from the Eastern Cape supporting Kotana on the night, Chauke has described the rivalry as legendary.

Lining up in Kotana™s corner on the night of the ESPN Africa boxing were also former two-time world champion Zolani Tete, former SA champ turned promoter Phumzile Matyhila and another former world champion Xolisani œNomeva Ndongeni.

"Can I be honest with you? You know, this rivalry between Eastern Cape and Gauteng will never end. My parents are born in Limpopo but I was born in Gauteng, and I'd like to say I'm from here," said Chauke.

"When I was fighting in the amateurs, I used to represent Gauteng in the nationals, so I'm from Gauteng. This rivalry started when we were still amateurs, and even now we can train together - because I see all these guys here in Joburg were signing for Kotana, I was surprised like, 'Hau, these guys?'

"Even Nomeva, and I don't know if that one maybe wants my downfall or what, but it will never happen my man. My will is strong, I believe in myself and I believe in what I say - I do what I say, I'm a man of my word.

"But it's mixed emotions, I used to train with those guys, especially when I saw Phumzile in the other corner. Phumzile and I are ok, even with Zolani and Makazole [Tete], we used to train together, I used to spar all of them and we were close, we used to hang out together on weekends.

"Zolani, myself, and Makazole used to live in the same yard, and when I saw them in the other corner it was mixed emotions. I was like, 'These guys, one time they were in my corner, now they are against me.' But it is what it is, things change and what can I say? It's life, and life goes on."

By Velile Mnyandu