By Ron Jackson

Lunga Sitemela from Cape Town won the South African junior lightweight title on a tenth-round stoppage against the defending champion Sibusiso Zingange of Pretoria at The Gallery in Sandton, Johannesburg on Thursday night. Zingange (56,20kg) suffered a dislocated left shoulder in round nine and could not come out at the bell for the tenth round.

The champion Zingange made a good start using his left jab as he kept the advancing Sitemela (58.44kg) on the outside through the first five rounds. Sitemela (58.44kg), who is listed at #1 in the most recent Boxing SA ratings, threw a lot of punches in the early rounds, which were picked off by the champion who took an early lead in the fight.

However, the superbly conditioned Sitemela’s continued aggression saw him come back into the fight in rounds seven, eight and nine as he pushed the tiring champion onto the back foot.

In round nine Zingange was in obviously trouble as he pushed Sitemele around the ring and then staggered back to his corner holding his shoulder in pain.

The 30-year-old Sitemela improved his record to 14-1, 8 KOs, and Zingange, 29, saw his record dropped 17-6-2, 4 KOs.

The referee was David van Niewenhuizen and the unused judges were Phillip du Randt, Mmoledi Molokoan and Cyphrial Ndaba.

UNDERCARD

In a woman’s bout, Ellen Simwaka captured the IBF Africa bantamweight title with a ten round split decision win over Sharadene Fortuin.

Super middleweight: Patrick Mukala (DRC) W rsf 3 Jimmy Mabundji (DRC).

Junior middleweight: Darren Rossouw W pts 6 Welcome Malumbu (DRC).