There was absolutely nothing on Zolani Petelo’s 10-2-2 record to suggest that he had any business challenging the long reigning IBF strawweight world champion Ratanapol Sor Vorapin. Petelo had won his last fight against a nondescript opponent but in the two fights before that, he lost on points to Neo Seboka and was knocked out in ten rounds by Lindi Memani in a challenge for the South African title.
Vorapin, in contrast, had held the IBF belt since 1992 when he outpointed Manny Melchor, made 13 successful title defenses, losing his title on the scales before the last one and then regained the vacant title two months later, beating Jun Arlos. He proceeded to make another six defenses before facing Petelo, running his record to 34-2-1 with 27 knockouts.
Manager/trainer Mzi Mnguni must have seen something others did not because they took the gamble, challenging Vorapin in his native Thailand no less, a country notorious for being hostile territory for visiting fighters.
In a battle of southpaws, Vorapin started aggressively, landing several hard right uppercuts and hooks and banging away to Petelo’s body whenever he came close. The South African stayed composed and, slightly behind on the cards, got his opportunity in the fourth round when he nailed Vorapin on the chin with a perfect straight left. The follow up barrage of punches backed Vorapin into a corner and Petelo had him out on his feet when he eventually sagged to the canvass. He somehow got himself back to his feet but collapsed again, forcing the referee to wave the fight over.
Petelo and Mnguni had no time to celebrate. They had to dodge and dive to escape the promoter who wanted to force them to sign a rematch clause and take the next plane out of Thailand.
Ratanapol Sor Vorapin moved up to the junior flyweight division, where he challenged for the IBF title twice, losing on points to Will Grigsby and getting stopped in three rounds by the great Ricardo “Finito” Lopez in 2000. He fought on until 2009, won some regional titles at flyweight but never contended for a world title again.
It was one of the big upsets in world boxing that year and some wondered whether Petelo’s unlikely world title victory would prove to be a flash in the pan. He proved the critics wrong yet again, developing into a solid world champion, making five successful defenses both locally and abroad before he moved up to junior flyweight.
He challenged the same “Finito” Lopez in 2001 for the IBF world title but that proved one step too far and he was knocked out in the eighth round. He retired but returned in 2005, losing two fights on points before finally calling it a day.
