WBO bantamweight champion Zolani "Last Born" Tete was almost in tears when informed that he had made the top five nomination for the Sports Star of the year at the SA Sports Awards to be held at Emperors Palace on November 12.

This has never happened before that a boxer gets nominated in these awards.

Tete's fellow nominees for the award are athletics stars Luvo Manyonga, Wayde van Niekerk and Caster Semenya, as well as Mamelodi Sundowns winger Percy Tau.

Speaking from his training camp in Johannesburg, where he is preparing for his upcoming first defence of his WBO bantamweight belt against Siboniso Gonya in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on November 18, Tete said: "I am humbled beyond comprehension to be nominated among top athletes.

"This nomination will give me even more energy in my preparations."

Tete's manager Mlandeli Tengimfene said: " The nomination means a lot to our camp. It comes at a good time, it's a motivation for our defence."

Tete, from Mdantsane, is currently the only SA boxer to hold a WBO belt, a sanctioning body that rates among the top four alongside the WBA, WBC and IBF.

It has taken South Africa 14 years to produce a WBO champion since Corrie Sanders beat Wladmir Klitschko for the heavyweight title in 2003.

Boxing SA chairperson Muditambi Ravele was also elated by the nomination.

"This is very good for boxing and I must say that Tete's being in the top five is an achievement for our sport. This will definitely encourage other boxers to work harder because their achievements are being recognised."

Tete was nominated in England for the best foreign boxer last year but he lost out to WBA Super and WBO junior featherweight holder Guillermo Rigondeaux of Cuba.