Sitimela retains SA title, Pontack crowned new WBF champ

Brice Boxing Academy’s Lunga Sitimela successfully defended his SA title against a tricky Khanyile Bulana, from East London, at Vibrant Sports, in Ottery, on Friday night.

Organised by Jackie Brice Boxing Promotions, and sanctioned by Boxing SA and the World Boxing Federation, the event saw more than 10 bouts taking placing in front of a packed crowd.

The main one, between Bulana and Sitimela, was, on paper, faily even. The visiting boxer had 12 wins, eight knockouts and one defeat, meanwhile Sitimela had 14 wins, eight knockouts and one defeat.

Sitimela stopped Bulana in the seventh round via a technical knockout, successfully defending his title for the first time.

In the main supporting bout, Daniel Pontack, from Brice’s Boxing Academy, stopped his opponent from Gqeberha, Mzwabantu Dabaza in the ninth round to be crowned the new WBF and Western Cape Provincial flyweight champion.

Pontack said the long training camp hours paid off mentally, physically and with the win.

“My opponent was tough. He could take punches. I took me all the way to eight and ninth round but I knew I would get him eventually,” said Pontack.

Capricorn’s Baby Jake Mbangatha made a comeback winning fashion when he technically knocked out Motherwell’s Tabiso Zakhe in the fifth round.

Pierre Lyle Fischer, from Ottery, made a statement with a stinging body shot in the rib cage against Limpopo’s Takalani Ramuedi.

Tasriq Sayed was handed his first defeat by visiting opponent, Malangana Nzama, who was also making his professional debut. Sayed started slow and when it was time to catch up, Nzama had other plans.

In the women’s bout, a bloody Simamkele Tuntsheni, won via a unanimous points decision over Lufuno Mutshayi.