Hector ‘Hekkie’ Budler lost his World Boxing Association (WBA) junior flyweight title to undefeated Japanese boxer, Hiroto Kyoguchi in a fight on New Year’s Eve.
The 30-year-old Newlands resident quit at the end of the 10th round during the fight in Macau, China.
He told the Northcliff Melville Times afterwards that although the fight was close points-wise (the judges’ scores were 98–92, 96–94 and 97–93 in favour of Kyoguchi at the time of stoppage) he had no excuses and ‘he beat me fair and square’.
“I felt I was doing okay but I was starting to slow down and things were just starting to catch up with me,” Budler said.
He added that when his trainer, Colin Nathan, advised him to stop the fight, he agreed.
“I trust Colin with my life and when he says something is wrong and I shouldn’t be fighting then I trust him and that’s why I just accepted it and did what Colin told me to do.”
Budler described it as a hard and good fight in which he did not do his best but ‘that is part of the game’.
He does not have any fights lined up at the moment and plans to rest for some time now before another fight is announced.
“I’ll keep fighting. I’ll be ready when I have to be and do the right training and right things to sort myself out and be ready for the fight.”
In May last year, Budler became the first South African boxer to hold three major world crowns simultaneously when he won the WBA, International Boxing Federation (IBF) and The Ring magazine titles after one fight against another Japanese boxer, Ryoichi Taguchi in his home country.
Budler later relinquished the IBF title when the fight’s earnings were not worth him making the trip, and now only holds The Ring title after losing the WBA title.
Also read: Newlands boxer Hector ‘Hekkie’ Budler to defend world title
Hector’Hekkie’ Budler looks to defend three major world crowns in one title defence fight
