(June 10, 2023) – South African Lunga Sitemela won the World Boxing Federation (WBF) World Super Featherweight title dethroning Steven Bagwazi in Gaborone, Botswana on Friday night, June 9.
After a couple of even rounds, the patriotic fans at ringside were left in shock in round three when their local hero threw a left hand and immediately kneeled down clutching his left shoulder, a recurrent injury which prevented him from continuing.
It was an unfortunate ending to a fight which looked like it could be very competitive and entertaining, as Sitemela had won the first stanza and Bagwazi edged the second, but it was not to be and South Africa now has a new world champion.
Sitemela (31), who entered the fight as the reigning South African champion, improved his impressive record to 16-1 (10).
Having won the WBF World title last August, and making his first defense, 28-year-old Bagwaza drops to 8-2 (2), and will surely be aiming for a rematch once his injury has healed.
The fight headlined a show promoted by Scud Missile Promotions.
