Budler to headline Human Rights Day boxing tournament
One of South Africa’s most decorated boxers and former World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Organisation (IBF) world light flyweight champion Hekkie Budler will be back in the ring on March 20.
He will headline a tournament in a 10-round international flyweight bout against Muhsin Kizota from Tanzania to mark and commemorate this year’s Human Rights Day and International Women’s Month on March 20.
The six-bout boxing spectacle will be staged by TLB Boxing Promotions in collaboration and supported by the Mpumalanga Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, and will take place at the Graceland Casino in Secunda.
This is TLB’s first tournament to be staged outside of its Gauteng home turf and the Mpumalanga department of sport is elated to host and support the tournament.
Aptly dubbed the “Return of the Big Guns,” the tournament will mark Budler’s long-anticipated return to the ring after what he describes as a “frustrating and terrible” two-year hiatus from competitive activity.
Meanwhile, the main supporting bout will see former International Boxing Organisation (IBO) lightweight champion Xolisani “Nomeva” Ndongeni square off against Malawi’s Byson Gwayani in a 10-round International light-weight bout.
The former returns to the ring under the stewardship of his first trainer and mentor, Mzamo “Chief’ Njekany, after the pair rekindled their working relationship towards the end of 2020.
Other supporting bouts will see Noxolo Makhanavu defend her SA title against Smangele Hadebe; while Sam Sithole and Xolani Mgidi will go toe-to-toe in a “Mpumalanga Derby.”
