| Zolani Petelo | |
| Nickname: | Tiger |
| Weight: | |
| Height: | 5 ft 6 in |
| Reach: | 68 in |
| Nationality: | South African |
| Birth Date: | 1975 9, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Ibhayi, South Africa |
| Style: | Southpaw |
| Total: | 24 |
| Wins: | 17 |
| Ko: | 9 |
| Losses: | 5 |
| Draws: | 2 |
Zolani Petelo (born 21 September 1975) is a South African former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2005. He held the IBF mini-flyweight title from 1997 to 2000 and challenged for the IBF junior-flyweight title in 2001.
Petelo turned professional in 1993, and accumulated a record of 10–2–2 before receiving his first shot at a world title in 1997.
As a significant underdog, Petelo scored a fourth-round knockout over long reigning IBF mini-flyweight champion, Ratanapol Sor Vorapin, 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, Juanito Rubillar,[1] and Mickey Cantwell.[2] He vacated the title in 2001 in order to move up in weight.
On 29 September 2001, he unsuccessfully challenged IBF junior-flyweight champion, Ricardo López, losing by eighth-round knockout.[3]
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. After suffering another decision loss, Petelo retired from the sport of boxing.
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round, time | Date | Location | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | Loss | 17-5-2 | Nkosana Sobethu | UD | 8 | 17 Dec 2005 | |||
| 23 | Loss | 17-4-2 | Zolile Mbityi | MD | 8 | 6 May 2005 | |||
| 22 | Loss | 17-3-2 | KO | 8 (12) | |||||
| 21 | Win | 17-2-2 | Roberto Gomez | PTS | 8 | 22 Apr 2001 | |||
| 20 | Win | 16-2-2 | Mickey Cantwell | TKO | 8 (12) | 2 Jun 2000 | |||
| 19 | Win | 15-2-2 | Juanito Rubillar | UD | 12 | 3 Dec 1999 | |||
| 18 | Win | 14-2-2 | Eric Jamili | KO | 1 (12) | 29 May 1999 | |||
| 17 | Win | 13-2-2 | Carmelo Caceres | TKO | 7 (12) | 4 Jul 1998 | |||
| 16 | Win | 12-2-2 | Faisol Akbar | SD | 12 | 21 Mar 1998 | |||
| 15 | Win | 11-2-2 | TKO | 4 (12) | 27 Dec 1997 | ||||
| 14 | Win | 10-2-2 | Mnyamezeli Shosha | KO | 6 (8) | 27 Sep 1997 | |||
| 13 | Loss | 9-2-2 | Neo Seboka | PTS | 8 | 20 Apr 1997 | |||
| 12 | Loss | 9-1-2 | Lindi Memani | KO | 10 (12) | 19 Oct 1996 | |||
| 11 | Win | 9-0-2 | Xola Made | KO | 6 (8) | 14 Jul 1996 | |||
| 10 | Win | 8-0-2 | Mawanda Sineko | PTS | 8 | 18 Feb 1996 | |||
| 9 | Win | 7-0-2 | Kholisile Nyanda | PTS | 8 | 30 Apr 1995 | |||
| 8 | Win | 6-0-2 | Xolani Sithhole | KO | 2 (6) | 7 Aug 1994 | |||
| 7 | Draw | 5-0-2 | Zolile Ngantweni | PTS | 8 | 12 Jun 1994 | |||
| 6 | Draw | 5-0-1 | Fezile Ngalo | PTS | 8 | 27 Feb 1994 | |||
| 5 | Win | 5–0 | Butana Kate | TKO | 5 (6) | 31 Oct 1993 | |||
| 4 | Win | 4–0 | Joseph Nimrod | PTS | 6 | 5 Sep 1993 | |||
| 3 | Win | 3–0 | Goodman Nketyana | 3 (4) | 4 July 1993 | ||||
| 2 | Win | 2–0 | Sifundo Nyoka | PTS | 4 | 23 May 1993 | |||
| 1 | Win | 1–0 | Xola Made | 4 | 3 Apr 1993 |