DOUBLE world boxing champion Hekkie Budler will be opening the boxing calendar for 2014 when he will defend his titles.
African Explosion will take place on Saturday February 15 at Emperors Palace. The tournament is presented by Golden Gloves Promotions in conjunction with Emperors Palace. The event starts at 19:00.
The diminutive boxer is looked upon as the best boxer recently produced by South Africa. He is highly rated among the boxing fraternity as well as some of the influential world boxing websites. Fightnews has him in the number one spot, while Ring magazine and Boxrec slots him in the second spot.
He was announced as the WBA straw weight champion some two weeks ago after the champion vacated his title. “I only realise that I am the WBA champion after three days when Rodney Berman from Golden Gloves phoned me,” said Budler at the Press Conference on Tuesday January 14.
“I will be defending my title for the first time and has no plans to forfeit it with the first defence. I have trained over the holidays and am in the final weeks of my preparations. I would also like to thank my promoter for all his hard work for me to be announced as the champion.”
“I’m proud that we will start the year off with Hekkie Budler in action,” said promoter Rodney Berman of Golden Gloves. “His stock has shot up in the past few months and he’s one of the best fighters on the continent. What’s more, he’s a fan favourite at Emperors Palace where he always produces great action.”
The double world champion will put both his WBA and IBO straw weight titles on the line in the main fight of the evening. He will face Colombia’s Karluis Diaz, who has a record of 21-4, 14 KO’s.
Also out of the Hot Box Gym under the watchful eye of trainer Colin Nathan will be Ryno Liebenberg as one of the undercards. Liebenberg has built up a substantial record of 14-0, 10 KO’s. “I don’t mind who I fight, I just want to go into the ring and do my business,” said Liebenberg. He will put his WBC International light heavyweight title on the line. Joey Vegas from Uganga, who is rated number six in the WBC and spends his fighting career in the UK, will come out flying from his corner to take on Liebenberg.
On the undercard, Johnny Muller at the age of 23 with a record of 15-3-2, 12 KO’s, may have bitten off more than he can chew, but over the past year he has learned a lot in the ring. He will fight Wilbeforce Shihepo from Namibia for the WBSC Silver International light heavyweight title.
Three of Golden Gloves’ best emerging talents in junior-welterweight, Adam De Moor vs Botswana’s Moses Kamara, junior-flyweight Thabang Ramagole vs Edward Disolwane and featherweight Ricardo Hiraman vs Phumodzo Monyai, will conclude the evening’s bill.
Tickets on sale at Computicket of Emperors Palace box office.
