Hector ‘Hekkie’ Budler is not resting on his laurels after becoming the first South African boxer to hold three major world crowns simultaneously.
The junior flyweight boxer from Newlands is still training after he won the International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Association (WBA) and The Ring magazine titles all in one fight in May.
Budler beat Ryoichi Taguchi, the holder of the three titles, by points in Japan to become only the second South African to claim The Ring title after Vic Toweel held it in the 50s.
“The Ring is the biggest world title you can get and Vic Toweel got it when there was only one title for each division,” said a proud Budler.
The 30-year-old has a host of trophies and belts he has won in his 21-year boxing career, but The Ring is his favourite, and one he hopes to keep after a title defence fight against Taguchi at the end of the year.
“My tactics against Ryoichi will be similar to what I used to beat him in Japan. He is a strong, come forward kind of boxer who relies on his power. My strength is my movement, my speed and fitness.”
Budler said he trained to be fit enough to fight 15 rounds, even though there were only 12 rounds in a professional fight.
He added that his wife, Roxy, had shown great support for him over the years, often training with him and going on similar diets.
This support, coupled with top-notch coaching from trainer Colin Nathan, has helped Budler win 32 fights, including 10 knockouts, and he has only lost three fights in his career.
“I love the work and dedication you have to put in to achieve anything in boxing. But I don’t like all the training I have to do,” he smiled.
“I have told my family that I will stop boxing before I become slow or not quite the same person – like some boxers do who retire too late and hurt themselves.”
He said he started boxing as a child because he hated losing, and it was one sport where if he lost he could only blame himself.
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