Classy Budler fists do the talking
Hekkie Budler delivering a stirling performance while Tommy Ooshuizen fought a battle.
KEMPTON PARK – The saying of “Dynamite comes in small packages” was very applicable on Saturday evening when Hekkie Budler’s fists did the talking in the ring.
Fighting Force boxing tournament was held on Saturday November 9 at Emperors Palace where two IBO titles were at stake. Budler defended his title against Hugo Verchelli while Tommy Oosthuizen battled it out with Ezequiel Maderna.
The diminutive Budler, fighting out of the Hot Box Gymnasium and under the watchful eye of trainer Colin Nathan, showed that he is fast becoming one of South Africa’s best and most probably in the world, delivered a sterling performance retaining his IBO minimumweight title and adding to his list of titles the WBA interim minimumweight title.
Budler produced his best performance ever to out-box the Argentine with a vicious fourth round stoppage. He softened up Verchelli from round one with perfectly timed punches to the body and then working it up to the head. Keeping up the pressure and not allowing Verchelli to break his guard, Budler closed down in the fourth for two eight counts before he finally landed the knockout punch. Referee Stan Christodoulou stopped the bout in the fourth round with 31 second remaining handing Budler the KO 2:29;59.
Oosthuizen in contrast had a battle on hands. Though also retaining his IBO super-middleweight title, he needed the full twelve rounds to prove that he was still the champion. Oosthuizen started off well but then lapsed to a listless performance from beginning to end, struggled with his range and in the latter part of the bout barely threw a punch that counted. He promised to give his best at the Press Conference held earlier the week, but to no avail.
Maderna opened up a ghastly cut to the bone on the Harold Volbrecht – boxer’s nose which seemed to slow the title holder down. Oosthuizen did not stay out of trouble as Maderna hit the spot time and time again.
Oosthuizen had a hard time overcoming Maderna winning by scores of 116-112 (Stan Christodoulou), 114-114 (Dave Parris) and 117-111 (Benoit Rossouw). This was his seventh defence of his title.
In the other bouts of the evening, the most impressive was that of Adam de Moor. Also fighting out of the Hot Box gymnasium, he was sharp, looked like a well-balanced boxer and dismantled his opponent in the first round. De Moor won against Nkosinathi Tshinavhe by a KO in the first 2:41 in the junior-welterweight division.
Junior-lightweight Koos Sibiya beat Thembani Hocomyane on points over 10 (97-94, 97-93, 96-94) and junior-flyweights Thabiso Moorosi and Thabang Ramagole drew over six rounds.
