Budler (27) was on top in the opening exchanges, landing more punches than his opponent before he slowed down and showed his defensive vulnerabilities that were evident in his last fight at the Palace, in what would have been a shocking outcome against Simphiwe Khonco.
Rojas took advantage of Budler’s slowing down in the latter rounds with damaging punches to the then champion’s face, who finished with a cut above his right eye.
All three judges scored the 12-round fight 115-113 in favour of the 25-year-old Rojas.
In the closest fight of the evening, Warren Joubert and defending champion Grant Fourie renewed their rivalry as the former regained the South African junior welterweight title by points.
In doing so, Joubert also won the interim WBA junior welterweight title.
The first official scored the absorbing 12-rounder 115-113 in favour of Fourie with the other two officials rather waywardly scoring it 117-112 and 117-111 in favour of Joubert.
The cards that favoured Joubert were not a true reflection of the contest, which was a lot closer and tricky to call.
In the night’s curtain raiser for the main event, the exciting Paul Kamanga underwhelmed in his win against Roman Balaev of Russia.
The victory saw the undefeated champion retain his WBA Pan African welterweight gold with a unanimous 12-round points decision.
The officials scored it 119-108 and 116-111 twice.
The night’s opening fight also saw a unanimous decision win as junior bantamweight Joshua Studdard defeated the brave Morapedi Khotle in their six-rounder.
The officials scored it 59-55 and 58-56 twice. – @SabeloBoksburg
