There won’t be any Christmas turkey for Philippi-based Lunga ‘Pressure Cooker’ Sitemela as he will be watching other people eating whatever they like or want this festive season.
Instead of indulging in all the festive feasts, Sitemela will be continuing with his preparations for next month’s fight against Moroccan boxer Moussa Gholam.
Dodrecht-born Sitemela faces Gholam in a 10 rounds international bout at Yas Links, Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday, 13 January 2024.
Interestingly, Sitemela won the South African and World Boxing Federation (WBF) junior-lightweight titles after his opponents dislocated left shoulders.
He bagged the SA title after former champion Sibusiso Zingange dislocated his left shoulder in May last year. Something similar happened when Sitemela defeated Botswana boxer Steve Bagwasi after he dislocated his left shoulder six months ago.
The 32-year-old Sitemela has stopped his last three opponents – Zingange, Khanyile Bulana and Bagwasi.
Meanwhile, Sitemela has a professional record of 16 wins (10 knockouts) and a single loss while the 28-year-old Gholam, who is based in Cataluna, Spain, has 20 victories with 12 stoppages and one defeat.