Former world boxing champion Zolani “Last Born” Tete has been shot dead outside his home in Mdantsane, Eastern Cape, South Africa, in an attack that has renewed concerns over violent crime in the country.

The 38-year-old South African professional boxer, who made his debut in 2006, was arriving at his residence on Friday when two armed men wearing balaclavas reportedly exited a vehicle and opened fire, according to police and South Africa’s sports minister.

A 27-year-old woman travelling with Tete was also shot multiple times and taken to hospital. Police have launched an investigation into the killing, while the motive remains unclear.

World champion killed outside Mdantsane home

Zolani Tete’s death has sent shockwaves through Mdantsane, a township with a strong boxing tradition that has produced several successful South African fighters. Police have yet to establish a motive or identify the assailants.

Tete began his professional career in May 2006, winning his first eight bouts by stoppage and claiming the WBF flyweight title. After suffering his first professional defeat against Moruti Mthalane, he moved up to junior bantamweight and endured several setbacks before defeating Juan Carlos Sánchez Jr. by 10th-round knockout in November 2013.

In July 2014, Tete defeated Teiru Kinoshita to win the vacant IBF junior bantamweight title. He later moved to bantamweight in 2016 and captured the WBO interim title in 2017 before being elevated to full champion.

Tete built a two-division world championship career

Tete established himself as one of South Africa’s notable international boxing champions after winning world titles in two weight divisions. His defining moment came on Nov. 18, 2017, when he defended his WBO bantamweight title against fellow South African Siboniso Gonya in Belfast.

Tete landed a right hand just seconds into the opening round, knocking Gonya out and securing an 11-second victory. The stoppage broke the previous record for the fastest knockout in a world title fight. He later successfully defended the WBO title against Omar Narváez and Mikhail Aloyan before his championship reign ended with a third-round TKO loss to John Riel Casimero in 2019.

Tete’s death marks the loss of a former two-division world champion whose career spanned more than a decade and included one of boxing’s most remarkable title-fight knockouts. Police investigations into his killing are ongoing.