WBO bantamweight champion Zolani Tete (28-3, 21 KOs) has been scratched due to a shoulder injury and will not be facing Nonito Donaire (39-5, 25 KOs) this Saturday night at the Cajun Dome in Lafayette, Louisiana, in the World Boxing Super Series semifinals.
“He hurt himself and wanted to stay in the fight but couldn’t,” Ringstar Sports’ Richard Schaefer, who promotes Donaire, told ESPN’s Dan Rafael after finding out about Tete’s withdrawal on Wednesday morning. “But as they say – the show must go on. When I talked to Nonito he was disappointed but he trained hard and he wants to fight. He is on weight and on schedule. He told me whatever it takes, he wants to fight.”
“Tete tried everything on site (to stay in the fight) but (his shoulder) deteriorated,” promoter Kalle Sauerland, the World Boxing Super Series’ chief boxing officer, told ESPN.
Sauerland said Stephon Young (18-1-3, 7 KOs), 30, of St. Louis, who is an alternate for the tournament and was due to face Daniel Lozano on the undercard, will now move into the semifinal against Donaire. The event also includes the WBSS junior welterweight semifinal match between Regis Prograis and Kiryl Relikh.
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