The World Boxing Federation (WBF) has opted to give Philippi-based boxer Lunga ‘Pressure Cooker’ Sitemela a three months suspension instead of stripping him of the junior-lightweight title.
This followed after the 32-year-old Sitemela suffered a fourth round stoppage loss to Moroccan boxer Mousa Gholam in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE), almost two weeks ago.
“First of all, he fought at catchweight. He didn’t fight at super-featherweight. He didn’t fight for a title, but lost his fight. We have given him a 90 days suspension. He retains his title,”WBF president Howard Goldberg said.
“After the 90 days, he has a further 90 days to defend his title. We had a discussion and we felt that it was different from Thato (Bonokoane) who fought for another title at the same weight and lost. In this case, Sitemela asked for permission to go fight. We gave him grace. Had it been at super-featherweight, he would have vacated.”
Cape Town-based Goldberg returned from Ukraine this week after he supervised the vacant WBF junior-welterweight title fight between Aram Faniian and 25-year-old Francisco Mercado from Mexico. The 26-year-old Faniian from Ukraine stopped Mercado in the seventh round.
“It’s a busy year and it’s still only January. So far this year, we have had tournaments in Germany, Columbia and Ukraine. Next month we will have a tournament in Korea,” Goldberg remarked.
