Lunga ‘Pressure Cooker’ Sitemela has finally found an opponent whom he will face in the first defence of his South African junior-lightweight title.
Sitemela, who was born in Dordrecht in the Eastern Cape, is due to defend against Khanyile Bulana on Sunday, 16 October.
Initially, Jackie Brice of Jackie Brice Boxing Promotions had applied for Sitemela to defend against Koos Sibiya.
But that application was turned down by the Boxing South Africa (BSA) sanctioning committee on the grounds that Sibiya had lost his last five fights.
“Plans have changed now. The Koos fight didn’t materialise. I’m now going to defend against Bulana on the 16th the of next month,” Sitemela confirmed.
The 31-year-old Sitemela defied the odds when he won the SA title via a 10th round stoppage of then champion Sibusiso Zingange in May.
Meanwhile, Bulana from East London is yet to fight since his first round stoppage loss to reigning International Boxing Organisation (IBO) junior-lightweight titlist Michael Magnesi in Italy in April last year.
Koos Sibiya has lost his last 5 bouts? OK.
Khanyile Bulana was stopped in the 1st round in his last fight? OK.
Bulana has not fought since April 2021? OK.
As though Bulana is a much better option. Why is this fight even being sanctioned?